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The effects of an animal's environment during adolescence can be passed down to future offspring, according to two new studies. If applicable to humans, the research, done on rodents, suggests that the impact of both childhood education and early abuse could span generations. The findings provide support for a 200-year-old theory of evolution that has been largely dismissed: Lamarckian evolution, which states that acquired characteristics can be passed on to offspring, writes Emily Singer in MIT's TechologyReview.
A Comeback for Lamarckian Evolution?
Seeded on Wed Feb 4, 2009 2:03 AM EST
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"If the findings can be conveyed to human, it means that girls' education is important not just to their generation but to the next one," says Moshe Szyf of McGill University, in Montreal, who was not involved in the research.
Very interesting findings. It shows how important good parenting and education really are.
- 2 votes
#1 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 6:44 PM ESTThis all makes perfect sense to me. I think behavioral traits are also passed down. Things such as certain habits, likes and dislikes, proclivities, etc. You can see the same behavioral traits in families many times and now we know why.
Good for the scientists.
- 1 vote
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