Hereditary trauma: Inheritance of Traumas and How They May Be Mediated

Tiffany Chan

Source- ETH Zurich

Date Published- April 13, 2014

Link- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140413135953.htm

Summary- 

Recently, researchers have discovered that trauma can be hereditary. If one goes through trauma at a young age, they can pass down certain behaviors to their offspring. This is caused by a molecule called microRNA. It is made using DNA as a template. Cells inherently have short RNAs which are called microRNA. MicroRNA have functions like controlling how much of a certain protein are made. A strip of microRNA contains 22 nucleotides and is complementary to a strip of mRNA. MicroRNA binds to the mRNA which prevents the making of proteins by suppressing protein synthesis. With adult mice, researchers have studied the effects of trauma on microRNA, like how much and what kind is being produced when one is traumatized. It was discovered that stress from trauma causes the microRNA to change in amount in the blood, the brain, and in gametes. The irregular amount causes differences in cellular processes which are controlled by microRNA. With the mice, after the traumatic experience, it was seen that the mouse’s behavior changed. It was also observed that these behaviors were seen in the offspring of the traumatized mice even though the offspring had not had any traumatic experiences. In addition, the metabolism of the mice were changed. The offspring of the traumatized mice had less insulin and lower blood-sugar levels than the offspring of the non-traumatized mice. The abnormal behavior and different metabolism continued to show in the third generation of mice. Currently, researchers are studying how short RNA affect trauma inheritance in humans. 

Connection- This article relates to molecular genetics as well as heredity. The result of the trauma is hereditary seeing that it affects the gametes of the traumatized mice. Therefore, the abnormal behaviors and metabolism affected by the microRNA in the parent generation are passed down to the F1 generation as well as the F2 generation. As learned in the molecular genetics unit, if something is changed in the gamete of an organism, then the offspring will inherit whatever has been changed. The change of the amount of the microRNA shows in the phenotype of the organism, seeing that their behavior changes. MicroRNA is made the same way mRNA is made which is by using the DNA as a template. Also, as learned in the molecular genetics unit, the RNA affects the proteins that are being made. MicroRNA regulates the amount of a certain protein that is being produced.