YOU ARE WHAT YOU ENCOUNTER:

ABSTRACT

Often, genes are just associated with inheritance. However, the environments and experiences humans encounter impact cellular genetic processes as well. The chemical environment influences behavior, and the social environment impacts organs of the body through altered genetic expression. In the former, for example, lack of nutrition has decreased neuron protein production in the brain, leading to abnormal disorders like schizophrenia. In the latter, scientists have found that traumatic events such as near death experiences, rape, and chronic stress decrease genetic expression of a protein involved in brain growth. From conception to death, the physical and social environments we encounter literally alters the way in which DNA is expressed in all of our cells.