Although the hypothesis of the inheritance of acquired characteristics, first theorized by Hippocrates and Aristotle, was almost universally rejected by 20th century scientists, a new science called epigenetics now gives it some credit. Epigenetics study the alterations in gene expression as a response to environment. Only 8,000 of the 24,000 genes in our DNA are activated, and when our environment…
- 21 September 2015
IS TYPE 2 DIABETES A GENETIC DISEASE?
Statistics prove that close relatives of diabetic patients are more likely to develop this metabolic disease. And the likelihood of becoming diabetic increases along with the number of relatives affected (one grandparent, one parent, both parents, the whole family). But is this caused by genetics or by the fact that members of a family usually share common diet and lifestyle…