Do our genes have memories?

If you're able to receive BBC2, you may well be interested in a programme
at 21.00 this evening (3rd November) in the science series 'Horizon'. This
is a snippet from the preview:

From IVF treatment, to post traumatic stress disorder, to the food our
grandparents ate, the controversial science of epigenetics could change the
way we think about inheritance forever. At the heart of this new field is
the idea that our genes have a memory - that the lives of our grandparents
can directly affect us, despite never experiencing these things yourself.
[end]

Martin Brown...

They will be doing one on the "proven" benefits of crystal healing next :(

Charani...

Crystals *do* work :))

Martin Brown...

But like fairies - only if you believe in them.

And even then only at the same level as the placebo effect.

Charani...

Wrong on both counts. I'm a fully paid up member of Cynics & Sceptics
Anonymous (UPS Branch). I don't believe these things will work until
such time as I find they do.

Which branch of C&SA do you belong to?? ;))

Martin Brown

That certainly sounds controversial, and potentially very interesting to
anyone tracing their family history.

Charani...

This is one of the very rare occasions when I wish I had a TV because
that's the kind of programme that really interests me.

I would say that, yes, our genes do have memories and that's why names
and occupations re-occur in families perhaps after several
generations, why some places seem familiar on a first visit and even
apparent strangers seem like old friends on first meeting.

Martin Brown...

I remember a time once long ago when Horizon was a reputable BBC science
program. I wonder how they will work animated loud explosions and water
rushing over New York into this particular story line...

Martin Brown

Robin Harritt...

Umm...come back comrade Lysenco all is forgiven?

Slarty...

But it was subsequently proved that he systematically faked his results.

Laplace said something rather similar, but at least 150 years earlier, and
he could produce no real evidence.

Robin Harritt...

Do you mean Jean-Baptiste Lamark?

I don't know of anyone prominent in genetics specifically whose name was
Laplace. The only famous Laplace I know of is Pierre Simon Laplace the
mathematician whose specific contribution to genetics I am unable to find,
though 'Laplace transformation' and his contributions to probability theory

Robin Harritt...

Lamarck, before anyone else corrects it for me.

have been important in that field.

Horizon turned out to be a very interesting and informative programme on the
subject of epigenetics, I thought.

Robin Harritt

Peter Goodey...

Precisely what I thought when I read the preview in the newspaper. But this
time there is no Comrade Stalin to endorse Lysenko's claimed experiments.