2 ms·
not a biologist, but if we have a bunch of redundant dna (aka genes) that get activated/deactivated based on our environment, would that "state" be transferred
by globalnode 2y ago
not a biologist, but if we have a bunch of redundant dna (aka genes) that get activated/deactivated based on our environment, would that "state" be transferred to children? or do children get a blank slate of parental dna?
also, what causes genes to activate or deactivate? if proteins have any impact on this then there is information flow in the reverse direction, no?
- spiritbear14 2y agoTo answer the second question, the Central Dogma is interested in permanent changes at each stage, so the proteins can change the way DNA is expressed, but it cannot change the DNA sequence itself.
- globalnode 2y agothank you
- wiml 2y agoI think there are multiple mechanisms by which genes "activate" and "deactivate", but one of them is methylation, which can to some extent be passed to offspring: this is studied as part of "epigenetics".