In what ways does human genetics shape our biological features and overall wellness?

Question

How exactly does our behavior and environment modify our DNA, and how does that affect our body and health?

Answer 1

Another insight I have as a physician is the Heart Attack in adults/ or even an injury that involves massive life threatening blood loss.  Physiologically, patients automatically have a very shallow breath during a MI or blood loss.  I wonder if this shallow breath also increases the blood supply to the heart?  If we can " squeeze the spleen" by placing ice cold water/ towel on the face while the ambulance arrives perhaps we can immediately help the vascularisation of the heart by shifting blood to the vital organs?  Thank you!!

Comments

This is a very exciting idea!

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My first reaction after hearing about the spleen adding that much to circulation of RBCs made me wonder how else this might be utilized in the many different ICUs that I've worked in.

Answer 2

Hi,

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing work you’re doing with your podcast. I’m from Spain, and I honestly don’t even remember how I came across your podcast — but I do remember that, at first, I didn’t listen to it because the episodes seemed too long. Once I gave it a try, though, I got immediately attached. Now I can’t wait for each new episode.

One episode that really stuck with me was when you talked about how it’s often the mind that makes us fail during workouts. That idea really resonated with me, and it got me thinking: could the same thing happen on a mental or intellectual level? Like when you’re trying to focus or learn something new, but your brain just resists? I recently read a book about habits that mentioned how our brains are wired to work as little as possible — maybe that explains it?

Anyway, thank you again for sharing your knowledge and making me reflect. Your work really makes a difference.

Best,
Juan Pe

Answer 3

By the way, thank you for sharing. A man with intelligence, empathy and looks now that's my type. ????

Answer 4

I always hated the biology and anatomy subjects in school (too much batches of info to memorize) but I really like these podcasts about evolution and adaptation and the ones about how the brain and neurotransmitters work, I found them really really interesting.

Answer 5

They have chemistry ❤

Comments

Ummmm...noticed it right away.

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She's so cute

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Answer 6

Please a podcast guest about anxiety and ocd

Comments

Look into breath holding and developing cO2 tolerance. Divers are known to be extremely low in anxiety

Answer 7

A good start of the week

Answer 8

Spleen!! here we come!! Can't wait to hear all about it!!

Answer 9

As an ophthalmologist I would add that the visual cortex is very "plastic" in children (brain plasticity that we use in children to treat amblyopia) and as a consequence CHILDREN can be trained to see better under water by RECOGNIZING in their occipital cortex the images as they are. I do not anticipate any pupil constriction or corneal shape involved in such process. Children trained to see under water have a different visual brain than children that are not. In ADULTS, I anticipate that it will not be possible because the brain plasticity is a fraction of the one in children. Very interesting discussion! Thank you.

Comments

How to train underwater? Just by diving and wearing goggles?

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I imagine so. The refraction being different in the water than in the air, I imagine that the visual cortex will be plastic enough in kids to assess better vision under water without diminishing the vision in air.

Answer 10

I always feel smarter after listening to these podcasts! Thank you for this fascinating interview on genetics. ❤

Answer 11

Thank you both for this brilliant, scientific yet heartfelt discussion ❤❤❤

Answer 12

The discussion was really magnificent but I'm disappointed that they didn't go in depth scientifically speaking, especially about life style factors, behaviours, medicines and supplements that alter genetic expressions, things like hdac inhibitors which are studied as a cancer treatment, methylation cycles and acetylation that can have epigenetic alterations, somethings like Ehlers-Danlos and Hypermobility spectrum, and how you can take certain substance or diets & other things to change certain aspects of how genes express to alter metabolism and physiological features & abilities, they only discussed diving abilities but without any in depth scientifically or, even how nowadays there's research about how you can change something like lactase production using genetically modified commensal viruses delivered to the git to change that!

Answer 13

I don't think it's that difficult to modify our genes.
I once hemmed my Levi's.

Answer 14

Loved this content!

I’ve recently read that a baby had a CRISPR treatment (or however this is called) because of a rare condition and is responding well to the treatment. This is a big ethical question I have been pondering since reading the article.

Answer 15

Please do an episode on MOLD ILLNESS and CIRS.
So many people are suffering from this and this topic needs more awareness.

Answer 16

Wow this content was really good.

Answer 17

Super interesting content! Suggestion for future content: blood pressure and ways to regulate it.

Answer 18

The podcast is great, but I would pay for a summary of what I need to do.

Comments

Use notebook LM by google

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How much are you willing to pay?

Answer 19

Thank you Dr Huberman

Answer 20

Andrew, we love you