“Transgenerational Biology” - The Biology of Heritable Memories | Oded Rechavi | TEDxVienna

Can we inherit memories? This controversial idea, which goes back to antiquity, was rejected since it violates a fundamental dogma known as “The Second Law of Biology”. Traits acquired during life should not become heritable. Your children won’t know the content of the books you read, right? However, we discovered using worms that acquired traits can become inherited nevertheless. Not via DNA, but via inheritance of RNA molecules which obey different rules altogether. Most incredibly, we found that small RNAs made in the parents’ brain control the genes and behavior of the progeny, challenging basic concepts in genetics and evolution. Prof. Oded Rechavi’s mission is to challenge fundamental long-held dogmas. He found an exception to the original “Cell Theory”, provided the first direct evidence that an acquired trait can be inherited (via small RNA molecules, not via DNA changes), discovered a mechanism that allows nematodes’ brains to control the behavior of their progeny, and demonstrated that parasites can be genetically engineered to deliver drugs to the nervous system. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@brittanyhunter3331]

A lot of us feel and know this, being able to identify and connect to the experiences of our parents, grandparents, etc. This was especially true for me as a child, always feeling so different and disconnected from my surroundings. Thank you for giving this language!

[@addyb9374]

He taught me in University! Go Oded!

[@davidpyramid2623]

Good talk. Props to the speaker for talking so damn fast it seemed like he gave a 30 min talk in only 13.

[@Ankit_mn]

look at 0.75x

[@Archloop]

@@Ankit_mn It's funny because I hear him speaking a bit slowerd than a normal person, yet his speed is not comparable to he awfully slowmotion giggles or claps lol the man is really fast talking, and although he has problems with English I could understand him perfecly at 1x

[@noelvanbrocklin6748]

And I watched at 2x speed!

[@canucksaram]

When I was at the University of Waterloo back in the '90s I saw a video of this planaria experiment on a flat table that was wet. An electric current was run through the planaria when the table was lit up, conditioning them to expect a shock every time the table lit up. The naive worms that ate their peers would shrink up in reaction to the table lighting up, even though they had never been shocked. They "learned" from eating their peers.

[@blarmosanchez2593]

So the illuminati are eating babies to steal their memories?

[@hasna2012]

@@blarmosanchez2593 what memories do babies have lmao

[@blarmosanchez2593]

@@hasna2012 Being in the presence of God before birth

[@hasna2012]

@@blarmosanchez2593 👁️👄👁️ what

[@teppopuinut]

Thus, the ritual (cannibalistic) consumption of a brave enemy's flesh could prove to be an unconfortably «right» habit after all (based on instinctive and unrefined, and yet «effective» a grasp of living matter's behaviour)… Eerie, uh?!

[@johnbruenn8755]

Excellent presentation. I hope they dive into this subject more. Fascinating topic.

[@sigalfreund8051]

Impressive and fascinating lecture. Well done, Oded.

[@Karla-yk4bm]

Love this TED talk

[@HK-sw3vi]

Great presentation

[@sinephase]

Pretty neat. Sounds like DNA adapted to use RNA to protect the organism in future generations. Considering that instincts aren't directly accessible by our memory, there must be a separate part of the brain that uses RNA to make instincts.

[@ranjitpelia3267]

RNA world hypothesis > Central Dogma

[@randomvintagefilm273]

I've always wondered about this! I think it is possible

[@antihero_1]

Me too!

[@JamesHomieHolmes]

My ancestors are smiling on me, imperial. Can you say the same?

[@MrChaluliss]

Really quite interesting to consider a totally novel mechanism of memory transfer. Can't help but be curious about its limitations and effects more broadly now.

[@loutoronto1699]

In simplest terms, A good analogy would be; for example, let's say a person has genes ABCD that make up a memory. Genes ABC would be then passed down to the next generation with the missing gene. Now throughout the person's lifetime gene D would be activated or acquired later through experiences and would complete the whole inherent memory.

[@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre]

.... hello. What video did you watch? How did you come up with this? And where can I get what you are smoking?

[@katiebarnshaw]

not quite - all of the genes are passed down (so ABCD are inherited), but the gene D is silenced until an environmental trigger may cause silencing to turn off. hope that helps!

[@antihero_1]

It certainly helps!

[@sravasaksitam]

Read up on this stuff a little more

[@guyplessier7935]

If memory is inherited by your DNA how come I can’t remember a thing about Adam or Eve?

[@sebastianlewandowski6653]

"What's the physiological relevance?"

[@WARSfate]

Amazing thank you Oded

[@salamangkali-allmartialart4836]

My ancestors are alive in me. They never died.

[@topcatcoast2coast579]

I'm a dead ringer for my ancestor Simon Bolivar. I can commiserate my guy.

[@philipm3173]

They definitely died. Everyone dies

[@gedoplanet]

And they are disappointed

[@KarlHessey-db6mf]

I hope mine are what I don't hope, is that my entire universe and life is just dark deep blood expanding through my future children's children's vein's.

[@cliffinhokisero3747]

Exactly

[@jtkw]

Great stuff, except that he did not explain how those epigenetic modifications get passed to the germ cell. I was hoping to hear an answer about that.

[@amandamcfarland8554]

I don't know if it's in the genetic code, but I feel I have memories from my ancestors. I can identify memories on both sides through both my maternal grandmother and great great grandmother and I believe my paternal great grandmother. It's really the only thing that makes sense to the memories I have, but did not personally experience.

[@WHiT3_SHAD0W]

There are many things about our world and our selves we know nothing about. If people from the past would hear about what we know today (atoms, space, technology) they'd think we're crazy magicians or something. But I believe things such as ancestry memory, "ghosts", and other unexplainable things will one day be understood.

[@vuje6890]

“If memories are inherited in humans, it might mean that we have a greater responsibility for our actions because you are affecting multiple generations. …..Regardless of whether memories are inherited (across generations) in humans or not, it is a good idea to act as if it does.” This is profound.

[@ar2468]

Que ineteresante!!

[@joywisnun1674]

Dawg that worm thing was literally AOT what the heck

[@veryconfused9768]

where can i find more on it

[@quintenboosje2437]

So these worms hold the key for a sort of antibiotic that works on virusses? Why was there no mention of this? 7:40

[@timbob1145]

We do have many neurons within the gut and it is only recently that the effect on behaviour and health of the microbiome has been taken seriously, yet it seems now to be legitimate idea. Our genetics contain more information than we can possibly know at this point, after all your DNA determines who you are, we know there are subconscious behavioural traits also contained within genetic material. Arachnophobia would be a good example of inherited behaviour, fear of spiders would indeed have kept ancestors alive... But maybe this isn't a learned behaviour like a passed on memort and instead a random behaviour that improved evolutionary fitness and therefore was passed on. Dreams, certain gut feelings, relationship with inner self, even some people's personal relationship with God may turn out to be a relationship with their ancestral genetically contained memory. I think it's worth further study.

[@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre]

Ooookay, I'm only going to touch on a piddlety bit of that, but just know that isn't exactly how it works. So what gets passed down is a propensity for arachnaphobia, not the actual fear of spiders. Studies have shown that people are more capable of picking up on a fear of certain animals, smells, and other stimulus better than others. So the fear of arachnids, in particular, is one of the traits that fills in a "genetic check box" with an environmental effect. It's kind of like a gene that gives attention to a particular thing and puts a strong prejudice towards dopamine in relation to the thing. Assuming you understand dopamine and it's functionality, you get that you learn about something with greater ease if that thing is related to a higher dopamine response. So instead of initial dopamine levels being higher or lower with a concept, the sensitivity and threshold is altered

[@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre]

I'm a little rusty, so don't read to deeply into that, just know it has a bit more complexity than fear being passed down. Your gut biome description is pretty dead on, aside from mentioning each one of us has unique bacteria to each of our guts, not only in combination and proportion, but you have individual species inside you that exist only inside your gut, with different effects influencing you in ways that will be more specific than most people can find out. And you have an even larger variety of viruses that prey on those bacteria, again with many that are unique to you and only you. Poop transplants are a thing, they are described as a way to transfer ethics and ideals, along with things like metabolism, mental health, intelligence, allergy resistance, and lord knows what else. But it's like an invasive species in the everglades, it may be OK, or it may be devastating to your established identity.

[@timbob1145]

@@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvrethanks for the clarification on that detail. It's the dopamine response or propensity for a response that is part of the mechanic that DNA controls, or at least has an influence on, that conveys the information, that in turn manifests in someone's consciousness as a fear or phobia. So yeh maybe not exactly the way I described, consciousness is indeed a hard problem. Does the multiple chunks of data make consciousness or does the brain make consciousness, with narratives, out of the data?

[@timbob1145]

@@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre also are you a biologist, neuroscientist or psychologist of some kind?

[@timbob1145]

@@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre also glad that the relationship between the universe in our bowls etc is reaching a point where medicine may be able to finally take a not so pseudo hippy mumbo turn to the dietary side.

[@boudreux9318]

I came looking for proof that I wasn't crazy, and this explains a lot. This is not only plausible, I can say with certainty that it is reality.

[@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre]

Sorry, this may only prove the possibility of an idea you had being correct. As for proving you are crazy or not, that's just perspective.

[@boudreux9318]

@@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre Thank you. I have had some experiences that I couldn't explain, but this video helps a little. I have memories of things that I didn't actually experience in this lifetime, and it doesnt make sense to me.

[@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvre]

@@boudreux9318 yeah, I talked about something my parents did when I was a kid one time. They had to explain it happened 2 years before I was born

[@youio9063]

​@@lemonstealinghorsdoeuvreWOW

[@livebreatheeatfitnessco.4146]

I disagree with one thing he said..You can inherit muscle physiques through ancestor dna

[@ctw213]

So, this might theorize then the COVID vaccine and its affects can/will be passed down to the next generation(s)? @8:15

[@ponglaitan6683]

Awesome research and sharing🙀🙀🙀. Can I become your research assistant for free?

[@ssss...648]

Why wouldn't?

[@JKDstocks]

We've known this is its most basic forn for hundreds of years now.... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

[@JKDstocks]

@@cliffpinchon2832 the strongest memory you can pass on genetically is fear.... why family's very often share the same phobias.... and hundreds of year minimum we have known about this.... late 1500s the phrase the Apple dosent fall far from the tree was recorded by Germans from the east Asian cultures.... history before 500 years is very foggy but I'm sure it was known for thousands of years before.... most us presidents share a bloodline.... most Asians share a bloodline.... the ruler genes.. and the thinking outside the box genes... chip off the old block 2 peas in a pod ect ect ect.... before our current scientific system of facts the main way was simple observation....

[@JKDstocks]

@@cliffpinchon2832 also why in most cultures the first born son is the most important and usually the main follower in the fathers footsteps... women can carry genetics but not the same as a man... think x y chromosomes.... the male even in science now shares more genes with the father.... and the firstborn simply because it's your first and the one you try hardest at teaching.... 2nd or 3rd born often put to the side as you focus on firstborn... its funny how it works... im the 6th firstborn each generation runs away from home at a young age to make something of ourselves and cut ties with the family... untill about 50-60 or before after when we become wealthy in our own way then we go back up to (now) upstate NY and rejoin the family and mend ties to wait in retirement to wait for death... my surname means we are the old judges and my job now is a hibachi chef.. cook in front of 100s of people a day just so I can judge people.... really funny how genetic memory works out or as the other old saying goes history always repeats itself

[@patod4]

in these corona times it is super interesting to hear Oded say that the worm produces small RNAs that "match the virus's genome that leads to its destruction". Can anybody explain please? what Oded is talking about when he says "matching the virus's genome ??? thanks

[@KawaiiFireMoon]

Its a kinda balance thing. Like how dna has its mirror side. If its matched with its exact copy instead of a balancing opposite it becomes unstable and collapses. Least thats what i know of it

[@Mikerosoftt]

I hope one day enthusiasts include a trait that benefits the host to see if genetic memory is viable. We adapt, we overcome, we conquer, why not give the species a trait that benefits its composition and find out if that is transmissible. why would Darwinism account for traits that set us back???? Use traits ( when we achieve them) to tell whether or not genetic memory is transmissible through solely generations and time....we will never transmit genetic memory if it is to our downfall and/or demise.

[@kathleennunley4269]

I have been saying this for years.

[@brightphoebus]

What about folk music? Is there any reason why one would have an affinity to the ethnic music and culture of their genetic background?

[@rpg9392]

It seems like such a taboo topic that scientists don't want to investigate. The implication could be dangerous - that some children are born more adept at certain skills or behaviors. However, I feel like, when treaded carefully, it can also be used as a justification and explanation for inequity and we can harness it to strive for equality. When slaves came to the US generations ago, they did not have access to the same education and nor did their children. Many generations passed with little education and now the current generation is at a disadvantage - not because they are biologically incapable, but because they do not have the biological privilege of an inherited LEARNED intelligence. If this is true, there is potentially a large population of people out there who must work harder to achieve the same results - not because they lack an IQ but because they are starting from scratch while others are not.

[@noelvanbrocklin6748]

Nah, that’s just the results of stress and hunger on the brain during crucial years of development. Doesn’t need to be _and probably CANT BE_ the ancestors’ access to book learning. And of COURSE some children are more naturally adept than others. Who denies this? It’s just not a universal truth that can be measured by one’s lineage.

[@WHiT3_SHAD0W]

The same people who theorized the earth was round or really anything we know to be true today, were called crazy or killed. We're so arrogant about knowledge, thinking we know best when really we have no clue.

[@israelarellano5293]

I knew it

[@feezcheez9688]

I don't want to spoil too much but this kinda explains some stuff that happens in Attack on Titan... Ya know, with titans eating other titans to gain their memories and abilities?

[@adriedrose1265]

Very true🤯

[@user-iu3iz6dk4c]

when are we building an actual animus ?

[@RaffieFaffie]

Already has been built.

[@robertamurphy1124]

Not true that they last only 3 to 4 generations. My past life regression placed me as a woman in Han China which lasted from 200BC to 200AD. I am of Irish French descent. Having no idea I had any Asian..it was confirmed by DNA..mitochondrial just recently. CRI genetics did the testing.

[@klmbchr13]

Pay attention to RNA.

[@DirtyLifeLove]

Noooooooo! I am so sorry children. I hope addictions are not passed down

[@0sba]

This is the future. One thing the response countries have to this pandemic has taught me, is that both sides of the coin are just as authoritarian when it comes to their viewpoints. Left, right, it really makes no difference. It's all about the culture of the country and the nature of the people that live within it. It's scary honestly, makes me feel worried in a Machiavellian way. Human nature is truly troubling sometimes, and it's really made me believe that biology truly plays quite a role in how someone behaves himself. The past of our cultures has shaped our biology, making the past of our countries ripple out into the present. Now. I can see how racism would be a very easy next station from a POV like that. I'd rather see it more akin to the same effect as transgenerational trauma; studies have proven transgenerational trauma to be a real thing. Cockroaches have it, mice, rats, even the ancestors of Poles that went trough extreme starvation, still showed signs of said starvation two generations later. For cockroaches this effect lasted for seven generations, where if an ancestor of said cockroach had an encounter with a huntsman spider, it's offspring would be more afraid than the average cockroach. A study on rats showed the same seven generation spanning trauma in this species. I think humans have a similar adaptation for assimilating to cultures. Anecdotally, my male ancestor came to The Netherlands 200 years ago as a Swiss mercenary to guard the palace in Amsterdam, and it seems like my family also had trouble adapting to their new culture. It took us 150 years to get out of the lower class layers of society, and a similar thing showed with Swiss ancestors who went to Germany during the persecutions of Zwingli followers; again it took a while before assimilation was complete. I don't think it had anything to do with the capabilities of these people, and more with the fact that they came from a place with different norms and values than were normal in The Netherlands. Transgenerational biology is truly the next frontier IMO.

[@view1st]

What do you mean by having trouble adapting to their new culture? Cite examples. Your ancestors being of a different ethnicity and thus tending to being stuck in an ethnic subculture facing prejudice for several generations as a result will certainly have contributed more than anything of an (epi) genetic nature. That and blind chance.

[@0sba]

@@view1st Here are two studies: The Second Generation in Europe: Education, Employment, and Mobility," edited by Rainer Bauböck, et al. (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011). This book brings together a collection of studies that examine the experiences of second-generation immigrants in various European countries. The studies find that second-generation immigrants often face challenges in terms of their educational and employment opportunities, as well as their ability to fully integrate into the mainstream culture of their host country. "The Second Generation in Canada: Multiculturalism and Assimilation," by Raymond Breton (Annual Review of Sociology, 1990). This study looks at the experiences of second-generation immigrants in Canada and finds that they face challenges in terms of their economic and social mobility, as well as their identification with the mainstream culture. The author argues that these challenges are due, in part, to the fact that second-generation immigrants are caught between the expectations of their parents and the demands of the mainstream culture.

[@0sba]

@@view1st If you look at transgenerational trauma, studies in Finland have shown that even people who were adopted, still have the same problems as their ancestors. It biologically makes no sense that transgenerational RNA is a thing, but we wouldn't use it to adapt to cultures (though it would have been made more for communities in the numbers of hundreds, which is what causes the problems we see today)

[@avmrb42]

Shouldn't human babies be born knowing how to walk then? We might be an exeption to the rule.

[@karthikchowdary8210]

Looks like Trevor from gta v stopped crime and became scientist.

[@MightybyGrace]

the Bible tells also that our curses from bad deeds go till the third generation and our rewards for our good deeds go till the 1000 generations. Also it is said that children are more probable to repeat the mistakes of the parents.

[@Kpelz]

But if memories are inherited why should offsprings repeat the same mistake?

[@akankshshetty7710]

Same in Hinduism as well

[@akankshshetty7710]

@@Kpelz you've never repeated a mistake at all ?

[@toric4406]

I think about this all the time! So glad I searched for this topic and found your comment. Its comforting to see other people are making the same parallels as me with the big picture stuff in life. 🤍

[@mgetsit1184]

@T123 Chill already!

[@SentaG]

Interesting that this was 3 years ago and it would so quickly be used for corona virus vaccination...

[@MAK2846]

I’m confused, did the crowd laugh and applaud when he said a previous researcher was blown up by the unibomber? Or did I miss something?

[@shalimarmanalili9573]

Dark humor. That scientist believing that memory could be transferred through the digestive system had bigger problems than other scientists criticizing his research.

[@HK-sw3vi]

The crowd laughed when he said, he Got started working as a result. Dark humor

[@esakib]

Who is here after watching Godzilla vs Kong? Context "genetic memory"

[@objetivista686]

WORMS....

[@ollanwebb4868]

So now I don't know if I should really be eating chicken or not.

[@ruthnamaste]

CALM DOWN DUDE! It was exasperating listening to you! Your delivery & voice was riddled with anxiety and nervousness ... 😥

[@JuliasHairJourney]

We should accept people for how they speak. Not everyone has to be super calm or chill. Sometimes, this is an act and very performative. Some so-called calm public speakers with wonderful delivery are just acting. We need to try and understand what people are saying and be empathetic to many types of people.

[@floridabigbear]

Epigenetics, if your grandparent experienced famine you are more likely to be obese

[@vidyashastry6335]

Of course! Where did your and my DNA come from then...?

[@rvnurse2b]

Wait... so could the COVID RNA vaccine produce vaccinated offspring in humans who got vaccinated?

[@petek9289]

Gives cannibalism some credence.

[@ProtoAlphaDog]

Did he make a joke about a man’s death?

[@billywalker7519]

The unarmed delivery resultspreviously mourn because vermicelli legally hang apud a jolly magician. poised, innate reduction

[@RaffieFaffie]

We were all thinking the exact same thing mate, worded in the same way too

[@user-gz4vb2rf5c]

Yeah but inheriting physical traits IS proven to be true. Look at Arnold Schwarzenegger's son!! Now yes his son still had to go to the gym to train hisuscles but upon doing so they literally have the EXACT SAME BUILD!!! Their muscle composition is identical!!!