Wider Reading: Behavioural Epigenetics

Grandma's Experiences Leave a Mark on Your Genes

This article introduces the idea that genetic information can be influenced by both nature and nurture, suggesting that life experiences are able to alter chemical signals to determine exactly which genes are transcribed. The field of epigenetics is concerned with  extra chemicals, such as the methyl group, which attach themselves to the genes that are necessary to produce the proteins required by the cell. Epigenetic changes can occur throughout life and can be triggered by a variety of factors, including diet, and can even be inherited, despite not actually being part of DNA itself; this is known as postnatal inheritance. A methyl group inhibits transcription of the gene it attaches to by tightening the DNA around the histone, making it much harder for DNA helicase to unzip this portion of DNA. To investigate the effect of life experiences on epigenetics, a natural experiment was conducted on rats whose mothers were either very attentive or very inattentive. This study found that genes regulating sensitivity to stress hormones were far more methylated the brains of those with inattentive mothers. This means that, for those with less attentive mothering, the genes which protect against the effects of stress were not transcribed as fully; therefore, the offspring were more susceptible to the effects of stress. In a follow up study, offspring of inattentive mothers were placed with attentive mothers and vice versa, and again the rats raised by the inattentive mothers had the most methylation in their anti-stress genes. Studies of human blood have shown that these changes can be present in humans too, and this could lead to the development of drugs to control or remove methyl groups, which may be useful in treating disorders such as depression. However, there are ethical issues with this type of treatment, most notably, is it right to alter inherited information?

Year 13

Despite not really using this blog during year 12, I managed to do well in my AS studies, gaining four A grades. This year I will use the blog for a different purpose: housing links to a selection of "wider reading" articles. Each fortnight, I will aim to read at least one article which relates to each of my subjects, as well as summarising the main points I have learnt from it. I hope that this practice will enable me to retain my high standard from year 12 in my A2 studies.

Psychology Conference 12/11/12

I had no lessons last Monday because I attended a conference at the Colston Hall, titled : "Science and Pseudoscience". Throughout the day we had talks, ranging in length from 30 minutes to about an hour. First of all we were told to be sceptical, then the psychologist who organised the event defended the integrity and importance of lab experiments (probably the most relevant part to my studies, but not the most interesting). "Dr Dance" Peter Lovatt told us some surprising things about the psychology of dance and attraction, then after a lunch break, we were treated to some magic tricks and learned that psychology could help change the world. Finally, it was time for the most humorous part of the day, hypnosis, in which a boy was stuck with his finger up his nose and other participants cuddled up to each other - it was hilarious!

German lesson 09/11/12

After relative pronouns last lesson, today we studied separable verbs, for example, "aufstehen". In this case, the separable part is "auf"; in a present tense sentence, it moves to the end:

Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.

In the future tense, the separable verb sticks together and goes to the end of the sentence:

Am Montag sollte ich um 7 Uhr aufstehen.

In the past tense, the verb parts are joined but with -ge- in the centre, and it goes to the end:

Gestern bin ich um 7 Uhr aufgestehen.

EDIT: After lesson on future tense, 14/11/12

In future tense sentences in which "zu" is required, the -zu- is placed in between the verb parts:

Am Montag hoffe ich, um 7 Uhr aufzustehen.

EDIT: After starting year 13, 15/11/13

If the verb is sent to the end in a present tense sentence, the verb parts are joined, but the present tense verb ending is retained.

Wenn ich um 7 Uhr aufstehe, fühle ich mich müde.

Introduction to my study blog

This is my new blog, specifically to do with my Advanced Level studies. I created it to help with my self-motivation; at the moment, it seems like as soon as I switch the laptop on, I am consumed by the wonders of irrelevant internetting, so much so that I have been failing to complete the recommended volume of additional work outside school. I hope that the things I post here will be useful and potentially become revision materials.