In a discussion about whether matter or mind is primary, DNA can be viewed in several ways.
Matter is primary. Your DNA determines your character in combination with external influences or acquired behaviors, which in turn are also a manifestation of the physical reality around you, rather than the action of your personal mind.
Reason is primary. You consciously decide which traits from your genes to activate. How you view your life, and which lifestyle you choose, affects your DNA.
Both of these statements are correct. DNA research shows how strong the connection is between matter and mind - your mind and body.
Some may have heard the term epigenetics. It is an area of research that studies external influences on genetics (epi is Greek for outside). DNA consists of many genes - the basic physical units responsible for the transmission of hereditary characteristics. Which genes will be activated depends on a number of factors - the environment in which you live, your perception of the environment, lifestyle and life experience of your closest ancestors.
Life experiences leave an imprint on genes
Behavioral epigenetics has found that events that people have experienced in their lives can leave “scars” on their genes, and they can be passed on to subsequent generations.
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In a Discover magazine article, this is described as follows: “Jews, whose great-great-grandfathers and great-great-grandmothers survived the pogroms in the Russian Empire; the Chinese, whose ancestors went through the horrors of the Cultural Revolution; young African immigrants whose parents have experienced ethnic conflicts; people of any nationality who grew up with alcoholic parents or parents prone to violence - they all carry in themselves not only remembering … Our experience and the experience of our ancestors does not disappear anywhere, even if it was forgotten. He becomes part of us at the molecular level."
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Any experience, both positive and negative, leaves its mark.
In this case, matter affects the mind - external factors generate stress or, conversely, a feeling of love and security. But a person's state of mind also affects matter - his genes.
The offspring are influenced by genetic "scars". But they can make their own choices in life, which will lead to certain experiences, positive or negative, and will leave their mark on the next generation.
Exercise affects genetics
The food and chemicals we are exposed to can affect the activation of certain genes. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm conducted a study to find out if exercise had a similar effect.
They found that exercise leads to a large number of changes in parts of the genome, mainly those involved in metabolism, insulin response, and muscle health.
Malen Lindholm, one of the scientists, said: “With endurance training, which is affordable and affordable for most people, we can bring about changes that affect our genes and gain healthier and more functional muscles. This will improve the quality of our life."
An important reason to stay positive
Bruce Lipton, a biologist who studies stem cells, explains in a video presentation and his book The Biology of Faith how each cell perceives external stimuli. Under the influence of stimuli from its nucleus, individual genes are selected for use - genes necessary to respond to a given external environment.
If there is no perception, the DNA remains inactive.
“Genes are not activated on their own … they cannot control themselves,” Lipton says. “If a cell is cut off from the external environment, it cannot do anything. Life depends on how the cell responds to the environment."
In addition, from Lipton's point of view, the creature's perception of the external environment acts as a filter between the real environment and the biological response to it.
“Perception rewrites genes,” Lipton says. “Positive thoughts promote growth or activate growth-related genes. Negative thoughts (especially fear or dislike) stimulate a defensive response - a fight or flight response that impedes growth.
Mind influences matter during fetal development
Lipton and others believe there is a link between the mother's feelings (love, fear, happiness, or stress) and the physical development of the embryo in her womb.
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“Recognizing the role of the environment during prenatal development in the onset of disease is challenging the idea of genetic predisposition,” Lipton says.
Again, positive thoughts stimulate growth, and negative thoughts trigger a defensive response.
In his book The Biology of Faith, Lipton quotes prenatal development specialist Dr. Peter Nathaniels: “There is growing evidence that the environment during fetal development in the womb is as important, if not more important, than genes. It programs our future physical and psychological health."
Dr. Thomas Verney, Founder of the Association for Prenatal Psychology and Health, wrote: "Scientists are coming to the conclusion that a living organism is a 'dynamic system' capable of actively reprogramming the behavior of genes to adapt to changes in the external environment."
