Study Inherited trauma

Traumas are apparently vererbar

05/28/2014

Extreme experiences change those affected. And often years later, their children. Researchers have now discovered a puzzle stone on how the inheritance of trauma could come about.

In psychology, the phenomenon has long been known: traumatic experiences trigger behavioral abnormalities that are passed down from generation to generation. That physiological processes are behind it, scientists are beginning to understand slowly.

Small RNAs with great effect
Now the researchers have succeeded in identifying an important component of this phenomenon: short RNA molecules. The scientists studied the number and type of different microRNAs in mice exposed to stressful situations and compared the values ​​with non-stressed mice. They discovered that stress leads to an imbalance of microRNAs in blood, brain and sperm. As a result, cell processes that are controlled by these micro-RNAs get out of hand.

The next generation is also affected
After the stress experiences the mice behaved clearly different. These behaviors were also transmitted to the next generation by sperm, although the offspring themselves were not stressed.

With the imbalance of microRNAs in sperm, an information carrier has been discovered through which trauma could be inherited. (Pm)

Picture: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio