EPIGENETICS, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS AND TRANSFORMATION – NATURE AND NURTURE

There is emerging scientic research and evidence which visibly demonstrates that internal body environmental inuences can not only impact genes but also how they are expressed. Scientists have discovered that early experiences can determine how genes are turned on and off and even whether some are expressed at all. Epigenetics is the study of how behaviours and environment can cause changes that affect the way the genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change the DNA sequence, but they can change how our body reads a DNA sequence. There is strong inuence of the epigenetics on social life. The ancient Indian systems of Ayurveda and Yoga indeed have strong bases for the same. It would be appropriate to further explore the same through inter disciplinary research