Prior to Mendel, scientists thought that if you got real smart, or grew big biceps, those traits would be passed on to your children. But when the physical genetic basis of inheritance was discovered, including even finding the presence of genes on a molecule, DNA (1950s), the idea that we could affect in our lifetimes the genetic outcome of our children was set aside.
It has now long been held that affects on somatic cells (those of the body), did nothing to influence offspring. The only way to affect offspring was by changing the genetics (mutations) of the sex cells, the eggs and sperm, that are passed on to children.
Well, now that we think that is all settled, along comes epigenetics. In effect, scientists have now found that environmental factors such as food can directly affect the expression of genes. Further, reminiscent of Lamarckism, these changes can be passed on to subsequent generations.
The DNA is not changed, but the way it is expressed is.
Studies have shown that the best pet food, namely raw natural food, had robust and healthy offspring down through generations. On the other hand, those fed cooked and compromised diets had deformed and weakened offspring. Epigenetics now explains why this occurred.
This is yet another reason why nutrition should not be treated as mere recreation and of no real consequence to health.
Choose health well. It is not for you your pet alone that it matters.
Thought for the day: "A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself." – Josh Billings
Word for the day: immunoglobulin - noun: Antibodies that neutralize antigens.
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