Stress of Poverty leave traces on DNA

University of British Columbia and the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, in a joint study showed that child poverty and stress, along with demographic characteristics - age, gender and ethnicity - leave an imprint in human genes. This track may play a role in our immune response.
The study was published in a special issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it is investigated how the experience gained at birth and in the first years of life, can influence the course of human life.
Study of changes in genes, also known as epigenetics, examines the process of DNA methylation, which are added to the DNA chemical molecules, "including" or "turn off" certain genes. The study found that experiences play a role in shaping the patterns of DNA methylation.
The scientists found that the socio-economic status of adult influence on heredity has not. But child poverty interferes with the methylation and imprinted genes.
"We found traces of biological life in a poor childhood - said Michael Kobori, Associate Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia. - This is clear evidence that the influence of the environment really is correlated with epigenetic models."
Amount of stress hormones produced by adults, is also associated with changes in the DNA. Kobori said it is a matter that was before - the chicken or the egg. It is not known whether the reserves in adults increased stress signs in the DNA or, on the contrary, DNA determines how much stress hormones will be released.
Kobori and his colleagues also found that methylation may help in the prediction of future immune responses, and therefore, the first experience of life sometime in the future will have an impact on the response to disease in adulthood.