Scientists Discuss Epigenetics & Generational Trauma

Was Lamarckian evolution actually right? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly learn about the new field of epigenetics and how the lived experiences of past generations can get genetically passed down with neuroscientist & epigeneticist Bianca Jones Marlin.

Bianca shares research from her lab which uses model organisms like mice to study how environmental stressors influence not just the individual but their descendants. Learn about how transgenerational epigenetic inheritance works and how they built an experiment to test it. How does trauma get passed down through the genome?

We explore some case studies, including the Dutch Hunger Winter, where the famine experienced during World War II left lasting health impacts on the grandchildren of those who lived through it. We also touch on contemporary parallels in communities facing systemic stressors like food deserts and chronic poverty.

Learn about the main olfactory epithelium and how sense of smell is used as a sensory trigger. We explore the potential benefits of understanding epigenetic inheritance, and how future generations could use this knowledge to break cycles of inherited stress. Could this science offer hope for those struggling with inherited health issues like hypertension or anxiety?

The episode raises big questions about free will, personal responsibility, and how much control we have over the legacies left to us—and those we pass on.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Bianca Jones Marlin
2:23 - What is a Model Organism?
3:40 - What is Epigenetic Inheritance?
12:38 - Passing Down Trauma
22:51 - How Long Do Changes Last?
24:30 - When Epigenetics Become Maladaptive
27:30 - Is Heritability Different in Males v. Females?
32:25 - Good Effects within Epigenetics
35:34 - What Lamarck Right?
38:29 - A Conversation with Biology
42:08 - What to do About This Inheritance?
45:10 - Controversy in the Field


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