Transgenerational epigenetics

Imagine that there is a blueprint inside of every cell in your body that tells it what to do and how to act. This blueprint is called your DNA. But your DNA is not the only thing that determines how your body behaves. There are also tiny molecules called epigenetic markers that attach to your DNA and control how it's used.

Now imagine that these epigenetic markers can change over time, depending on things like your environment, your lifestyle, and even your ancestors' experiences. For example, if your great-grandparents lived through a famine, their bodies may have developed epigenetic markers that helped them survive on very little food. These markers might then be passed down to their children and grandchildren, even if they never experienced their own famine.

This is what we mean by transgenerational epigenetics. It's the idea that epigenetic markers can be passed down from one generation to the next, and that they can affect how our bodies behave and how we respond to different environments. Scientists are still figuring out exactly how this works, but studies have shown that things like stress, diet, and exposure to toxins can all leave epigenetic marks on our DNA that may influence our health and well-being for generations to come.