What does Epigenetics mean?
The New Frontier
We are increasingly reading about the new frontier science of Epigenetics which is being heralded as the “new biology” but what does it all mean?
Epigenetics explains factors that are not such DNA changes. Rather, epigenetic changes relate to how genes are expressed. Some are set in response to early environmental influences such as prenatal malnutrition or nutrient deficiency. As cells split and divide, however, epigenetic factors play a large role in determining life-long human health and are strongly linked to poor health and the onset of disease. Epigenetic weaknesses magnify during aging and are major factors in the cause of cancer, heart disease, neurological and cognitive disorders, obesity, diabetes, infertility and sexual dysfunction.
One of the greatest epigenetic influencers is the power of the thought or perception, so both negative and positive thoughts can have a massive impact on the body.
Epi means above, so when we are looking at epigenetics we are looking beyond genetics. A true genetic change means there is a change in the DNA sequence.
This new science is finding that when toxins interfere with the human genome, they can cause lasting damage in the form of adverse epigenetic changes which can occur at any point in one’s life. This is not simply an issue of pollution. Researchers are now demonstrating that regular use of many drugs can cause adverse toxic epigenetic changes, a finding that has alarming implications today’s medical practices. Up to this point in time, drug safety has not involved studying the impact of any drug on epigenetics. Science now has the ability to see what is going on in this realm. The pharmaceutical industry and the FDA, unsurprisingly, have no interest in understanding and considering this new, ground-breaking information as the public would significantly reduce their intake of drugs.
The Importance of Perception
Epigenetics is mediated by environmental signals through perceptions which in turn can change the read-out of our genes. How you see the world selects which genes are going to be activated and modifies the read-out to make proteins that best fit the environmental circumstances of the time. Perception runs our genes, but not all perceptions are true. Misperceptions can miss-run our genes. Misperceptions are interpretations of the world that are inaccurate. Inaccurate perceptions will inaccurately run our biology which will lead to dysfunctions and disease which is why thought becomes a prominent contributor to the state of health we express.
Toxins and our thoughts are therefore the primary influencers which control our biology.