Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

SlightlyAlmighty t1_iv52msm wrote

Reply to comment by BioTechproject in How does the expression of DNA change during puberty? by spudfolio

Bit long, but I explained this to my 5yo and they got it.

I think a more appropriate word for "a lot" is "often".

DNA is mostly information about how the cells work and how stuff is made in our body (this is how we share 70% of our DNA with cucumbers and 90 something % with rats).

Only a very small percentage is related to aspect (human vs ape for example), less for geographical features (caucasian vs african for example) and even less for individual features (Bob vs Mike). Our genes suffer constant mutations over our lifetime (this is how evolution works, btw), but only a distinct few can "survive" and change something.

Think of yourself: your cells work the same way as they always did, so the big part of your DNA didn't change. You still look human with aging, albeit with minor changes in appearance (but that is due to other factors), so that part didn't really change. So while mutations occur often, they don't really change that much DNA.

Any time a mutation occurs, it alters what was already there, it doesn' create something new. A good analogy is with BMW and payable options: they are there but just need to be activated (and sometimes, when they activate, something goes wrong and your blinkers blink blue).

Between extreme causes of mutation you can find autoimmune diseases and cancer

2

windowsfrozenshut t1_iv55hg9 wrote

So you will pass different DNA on if you conceive a child at say 20 years old vs 40 years old? If you're 40 and developed say for example diabetes and hypertension from a bad diet and no exercise and conceive a child, they will inherit that stuff even if you were healthy and fit when you were 20?

1

LFmemes t1_iv5bfq3 wrote

There is an important distinction that needs to made, which is germ line cells vs somatic cells. Germ line cells form into the gametes, which contain the DNA that gets passed on to their offspring. On the other hand, somatic cell DNA doesn't get passed on (e.g. a random lung cell is a somatic cell).

Germ line cell DNA also doesn't mutate as readily as somatic cell DNA. However, a bad diet can lead to epigenetic changes (that influences gene activity and expression without actual changes in the DNA sequence) in germ line DNA, which can affect the offspring.

Of course, it's a lot more complex than I just described.

4

SlightlyAlmighty t1_iv56bug wrote

I believe you pass on some sensibility in that area, like the kids will be more prone to get the disease, not that they will actually develop it. Major influence if both parents have it, even more if their parents had it.

For example, if your grandparents had lung cancer, your parents have lung cancer, it would be wise if you didn't smoke or inhale toxic chemicals on a regular basis.

Edit for clarification: by inhaling toxic chemicals on a regular basis I mean work in places where said chemicals are present: factories, paint shops, gas stations etc

0

BioTechproject t1_iv84h0g wrote

Not to be the "actually"🤓 guy, buuuuut:

> I think a more appropriate word for "a lot" is "often".

I'd say "a lot" is more appropriate, as "often" seems to kind of imply that it's the same change all over your body.

> Any time a mutation occurs, it alters what was already there, it doesn' create something new.

Well.... technically it can ||a mutation like e.g. duplication can happen, where that gene can then mutate and start doing wonky stuff||

> Between extreme causes of mutation you can find autoimmune diseases and cancer

Very true, those are then the examples that are bad for the whole organism. As you already said most mutations don't really do much, and if they do usually PCD sets in or the cell simply won't function and die off that way.

1