[NancyM]

Interesting article about how genes can be silenced for multiple generations!

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...other-ate.html

A mother’s diet can change the behaviour of a specific gene for at least two subsequent generations, a new study demonstrates for the first time.

Feeding mice an enriched diet during pregnancy silenced a gene for light fur in their pups. And even though these pups ate a standard, un-enriched diet, the gene remained less active in their subsequent offspring.

The findings could help explain the curious results from recent studies of human populations – including one showing that the grandchildren of well-fed Swedes had a greater risk of diabetes.

The new mouse experiment lends support to the idea that we inherit not only our genes from our parents, but also a set of instructions that tell the genes when to become active. These instructions appear to be passed on through “epigenetic” changes to DNA – genes can be activated or silenced according to the chemical groups that are added onto them.

I don't remember much about what my Grandmother ate other than she was very fond of Horehound candies... so what does that make me!?!

[mistofviolets]

Feeding mice an enriched diet during pregnancy silenced a gene for light fur in their pups. And even though these pups ate a standard, un-enriched diet, the gene remained less active in their subsequent offspring.

Hmmm...You know, my mom was given a terrible time about my brother and mine blond hair and blue eyes (as she and dad are brown haired/brown eyed) but every one of my grandmothers great grandchildren are fair haired and I believe have light eyes too...(I don't pay as close attention to the color of eyes) I wonder if this gene/diet link works in reverse too? And what the paternal influence is?