According to a recent study conducted by the University of Washington, USA, substances that have previously caused toxicity in earlier generations of a family may continue to harm the health of current and future generations.
The research team has presented evidence indicating that certain toxins harmful to the uterus could lead to genetic diseases in subsequent generations.
The study, which was conducted on mice, suggests that environmental pollutants created by humans can disrupt gene function and increase the risk of inheriting genetic diseases for at least four generations. This research was published in the journal Science.
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| Source: agroprofesional |
Scientists conducted experiments on pregnant mice, exposing them to two types of agricultural chemicals during the fetal sex differentiation stage. The first chemical, known as Vinclozolin (a fungicide commonly used in vineyards), and the second, Methoxychlor (an insecticide), both affect normal reproductive hormone function.
As a result, male mice born to mothers exposed to these chemicals exhibited low sperm counts and reduced fertility. When these affected male mice were bred with unexposed females, the offspring still displayed similar abnormalities as their fathers. This phenomenon persisted for at least four subsequent generations, diminishing the fertility of over 90% of male mice in each generation.
The scientists analyzed the data and concluded that the cause of these phenomena was not due to changes in genetic coding but rather in gene activity. These “epigenetic” changes are induced by the small chemicals that attach to DNA and alter its function. Although such changes have long been recognized, their potential for heritability across generations was previously unknown.
“The Underlying Cause” of Cancer
Dr. Michael Skinner, the lead researcher, believes that these changes could be one of the causes of breast cancer or prostate cancer. According to him, these two types of cancer are becoming increasingly common, and the reasons extend beyond just genetic mutations.
Researchers argue that these findings provide evidence that exposure to harmful environmental factors plays a significant role in human evolution. This evolutionary process may not solely be influenced by genetic mutations as commonly thought.
Dr. Skinner further stated: “These results open up a new approach to understanding diseases. I believe they will be widely recognized and will serve as a primary basis for a better understanding of current dangerous diseases, although more research is needed for more definitive conclusions“.
In this study, the levels of chemicals the experimental mice were exposed to were significantly higher than what humans currently endure. Furthermore, additional research is required to determine whether similar phenomena occur at lower levels of toxic chemicals. Nevertheless, these findings provide new perspectives in the fields of science and medicine.
