Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations | Dr. Oded Rechavi

In this episode, my guest is Oded Rechavi, Ph.D., professor of
neurobiology at Tel Aviv University and expert in how genes are
inherited, how experiences shape genes and remarkably, how some
memories of experiences can be passed via genes to offspring. We
discuss his research challenging long-held tenets of genetic
inheritance and the relevance of those findings to understanding
key biological and psychological processes including metabolism,
stress and trauma. He describes the history of the scientific
exploration of the “heritability of acquired traits” and how
epigenetics and RNA biology can account for some of the passage of
certain experience-based memories. He discusses the importance of
model organisms in scientific research and describes his work on
how stressors and memories can be passed through small RNA
molecules to multiple generations of offspring in ways that
meaningfully affect their behavior. Nature vs. nurture is a
commonly debated theme; Dr. Rechavi’s work represents a fundamental
shift in our understanding of that debate, as well as genetic
inheritance, brain function and evolution. For the full show notes,
visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1:
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https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Oded
Rechavi (00:02:25) Sponsor: LMNT (00:06:04) DNA, RNA, Protein;
Somatic vs. Germ Cells (00:14:36) Lamarckian Evolution, Inheritance
of Acquired Traits (00:22:54) Paul Kammerer & Toad Morphology
(00:25:16) Sponsor: AG1 (00:30:06) James McConnell & Memory
Transfer (00:37:31) Weismann Barrier; Epigenetics  (00:45:13)
Epigenetic Reprogramming; Imprinted Genes  (00:50:43) Nature
vs. Nurture; Epigenetics & Offspring (00:59:06) Generational
Epigenetic Inheritance  (01:10:20) Model Organisms, C. elegans
(01:21:50) C. elegans & Inheritance of Acquired Traits, Small
RNAs (01:26:02) RNA Interference, C. elegans & Virus Immunity
(01:34:13) RNA Amplification, Multi-Generational Effects (01:38:41)
Response Duration & Environment (01:47:50) Generational Memory
Transmission, RNA (01:59:36) Germ Cells & Behavior; Body Cues
(02:04:48) Transmission of Sexual Choice (02:11:22) Fertility &
Human Disease; 3-Parent In Vitro Fertilization (IVF); RNA Testing
(02:17:56) Deliberate Cold Exposure, Learning & Memory
(02:29:26) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube
Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network
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