Nature or nurture, destiny or environment?
The nature and nurture debate has been raging for decades, particularly as it relates to human behaviour. Is a 'good' or 'bad' person born or simply a product of how he is raised, his environment? Can a person born of a 'bad' parent become 'good' if removed and raised by 'good' people, and vice versa?
In the last years, as our understanding of the role of genetics has increased, this debate has moved to health issues. The discussion goes like this: If my parents had a particular disease then I will get it also, regardless of what exercise I do, whether I smoke or drink, take drugs etc, so, depending upon my attitude, I may as well have fun, wallow in depression or just get on with my life regardless.
Now, advances in the field of epigenetics show that environmental contaminants can turn genes “on” and “off", triggering serious diseases that are handed down through generations. Equally positive environmental influences such as diet, meditation and exercise, can turn off these diseases for the current and future generations.
Until recently it was unknown whether the environment could change how these switches were thrown. Now it is clear they can, and the implications are enormous, and there is starting to be a huge body of research being undertaken on this issue.
Adapted from Environment Becomes Heredity by Valerie Brown, 14/7/08
Comment.
Given then, the power of positive activity, of attitude, to change our 'destiny' and that of our entire lineage, how we relate to ourselves, to money, to power etc, are all traits that will be passed down our lineage. Which partly explains the power patriachs and matriachs exert over their lineage down through time. Choices we think we make about hating or loving, being happy or unhappy, sick or healthy, may therefore have been made by our ancestors. The beliefs and attitudes of strong personalities pass down through the ages.
Environmental factors can apparently change our genetic make-up - we can be poisoned over time for environmental pollution and other things, or we can transform ourselves, by immersing ourselves similarly in the postive. See Brandon Bays interview for her story of apparently changed her genetic make-up. See also a fabulous talk by Dr Bruce Lipton called The New Biology - Where Mind and Matter Meet
Adapted for byronbodyandsoul.com by Mark O'Brien
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By Mark O'Brien