Richard, The role played by the epigenome in genetics actually does have a slightly Lamarckian tinge. Nova had a show saying that when identical twins are born their epigenomes are very similar, but that as they age their epigenomes start to differ more an more, and that certain behaviors like drinking or smoking can increase the rate at which such changes take place.
What I didn't understand about the article you linked to is that it appears they are changing the epigenome to change the expression of DNA, but as far as I know DNA only appears in the nucleus (with the exception of mitochondirial DNA), and thus would appear to affect the cell as a whole, and thus not be good at differentially affecting the strengths of different synapses --- as would presumably be required for most neuronal memory --- unless the nuclear DNA had some sort of mapping to individual synapses, or unless local changes to mitochondrial DNA, near a synapse are involved. The article does not appear to shed in any light on this issue of how changes in the expression of DNA would affect learning at the synapse level, where most people think it occurs. Ed Porter -----Original Message----- From: Richard Loosemore [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:12 AM To: agi@v2.listbox.com Subject: [agi] Lamarck Lives!(?) Am I right in thinking that what these people: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026845.000-memories-may-be-stored-on -your-dna.html are saying is that memories can be stored as changes in the DNA inside neurons? If so, that would upset a few apple carts. Would it mean that memories (including cultural adaptations) could be passed from mother to child? Implication for neuroscientists proposing to build a WBE (whole brain emulation): the resolution you need may now have to include all the DNA in every neuron. Any bets on when they will have the resolution to do that? Richard Loosemore ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=120640061-aded06 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
