Episode
Dr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
2:32:00
Published: Mon Feb 27 2023
Description
In this episode, my guest is Oded Rechavi, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology at Tel Aviv University and expert in how genes are inherited, how experiences shape genes and remarkably, how some memories of experiences can be passed via genes to offspring. We discuss his research challenging long-held tenets of genetic inheritance and the relevance of those findings to understanding key biological and psychological processes including metabolism, stress and trauma. He describes the history of the scientific exploration of the “heritability of acquired traits” and how epigenetics and RNA biology can account for some of the passage of certain experience-based memories. He discusses the importance of model organisms in scientific research and describes his work on how stressors and memories can be passed through small RNA molecules to multiple generations of offspring in ways that meaningfully affect their behavior. Nature vs. nurture is a commonly debated theme; Dr. Rechavi’s work represents a fundamental shift in our understanding of that debate, as well as genetic inheritance, brain function and evolution. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman HVMN: https://hvmn.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman InsideTracker: https://www.insidetracker.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Oded Rechavi (00:02:08) Sponsors: ROKA, HVMN, Eight Sleep (00:06:04) DNA, RNA, Protein; Somatic vs. Germ Cells (00:14:36) Lamarckian Evolution, Inheritance of Acquired Traits (00:22:54) Paul Kammerer & Toad Morphology (00:28:52) AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:30:06) James McConnell & Memory Transfer (00:37:31) Weismann Barrier; Epigenetics (00:45:13) Epigenetic Reprogramming; Imprinted Genes (00:50:43) Nature vs. Nurture; Epigenetics & Offspring (00:59:06) Generational Epigenetic Inheritance (01:09:03) Sponsor: InsideTracker (01:10:20) Model Organisms, C. elegans (01:21:50) C. elegans & Inheritance of Acquired Traits, Small RNAs (01:26:02) RNA Interference, C. elegans & Virus Immunity (01:34:13) RNA Amplification, Multi-Generational Effects (01:38:41) Response Duration & Environment (01:47:50) Generational Memory Transmission, RNA (01:59:36) Germ Cells & Behavior; Body Cues (02:04:48) Transmission of Sexual Choice (02:11:22) Fertility & Human Disease; 3-Parent In Vitro Fertilization (IVF); RNA Testing (02:17:56) Deliberate Cold Exposure, Learning & Memory (02:29:26) Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
Dr. Rehavi explains how genes and patterns of inheritance can shape our experiences and who we are both biologically and psychologically.
00:00 - 06:08 (06:08)
Summary
Dr. Rehavi explains how genes and patterns of inheritance can shape our experiences and who we are both biologically and psychologically.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
Despite each cell in our body having its own DNA, there is some evidence for the inheritance of acquired traits.
06:08 - 19:15 (13:07)
Summary
Despite each cell in our body having its own DNA, there is some evidence for the inheritance of acquired traits. However, this concept is controversial, as it goes against the current understanding of evolution and genetics.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
Paul Kammerer was a famous but controversial researcher in the early 20th century who did experiments on many animals, including toads.
19:15 - 31:41 (12:26)
Summary
Paul Kammerer was a famous but controversial researcher in the early 20th century who did experiments on many animals, including toads. Despite his colorful personality and innovative research methods, his theories on inheritance of acquired traits were ultimately discredited by the scientific community.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The memory and learning ability of flatworms can survive even when they are decapitated and their heads and brains regrow.
31:41 - 39:37 (07:55)
Summary
The memory and learning ability of flatworms can survive even when they are decapitated and their heads and brains regrow. Additionally, their memories can transfer through cannibalism and feeding, making for some interesting implications for neuroscience.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the two main barriers to epigenetic inheritance, where chemical changes and modifications acquired by cells are mostly erased in the transition between generations.
39:37 - 55:58 (16:20)
Summary
Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the two main barriers to epigenetic inheritance, where chemical changes and modifications acquired by cells are mostly erased in the transition between generations. However, some examples of imprinted genes show that epigenetic inheritance is possible based on maintenance of chemical modifications across generations.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
Starving worms can lead to longer living subsequent generations, although it may lead to negative trade-offs such as reduced fertility and illness.
55:58 - 1:01:53 (05:55)
Summary
Starving worms can lead to longer living subsequent generations, although it may lead to negative trade-offs such as reduced fertility and illness. Other methods of life-extension cults include caloric restriction and self-castration.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
There's a belief that people can change the biology of their kids through changing their own biology, however the idea is still controversial and not fully understood as psychologists, many psychologists believe that there's heritable trauma, while population geneticists are less convinced.
1:01:53 - 1:07:10 (05:16)
Summary
There's a belief that people can change the biology of their kids through changing their own biology, however the idea is still controversial and not fully understood as psychologists, many psychologists believe that there's heritable trauma, while population geneticists are less convinced. There are different ways to experiment parental genetic alterations but the focus now is separating nature from the mother in order to control and separate the environment from the inheritance or the environment of the father.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
Researchers can learn a lot about humans by studying model organisms like C. elegans because we share many functions and genes with them.
1:07:10 - 1:15:23 (08:12)
Summary
Researchers can learn a lot about humans by studying model organisms like C. elegans because we share many functions and genes with them. These organisms can be genetically modified and studied to better understand topics like immune compatibility and potential nurturing ability.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
C. elegans allows researchers to publish papers on the same neuron in different laboratories, and with their transparency, researchers can observe the neurons firing and activate/silence genes using optogenetics.
1:15:23 - 1:20:10 (04:47)
Summary
C. elegans allows researchers to publish papers on the same neuron in different laboratories, and with their transparency, researchers can observe the neurons firing and activate/silence genes using optogenetics. This is a significant advantage over studying neurons in mice or humans, despite their difference in species.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The mechanism of RNA interference works through small RNA molecules that have the ability to regulate the expression of specific genes.
1:20:10 - 1:29:37 (09:27)
Summary
The mechanism of RNA interference works through small RNA molecules that have the ability to regulate the expression of specific genes. Researchers have been able to demonstrate the role of double-stranded RNA in silencing genes, leading to a better understanding of the control mechanisms of gene regulation.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The possibility of passing on an acquired trait across human generations is entertained by injecting RNAs to worms, as shown to demonstrate similar cases, to have something in the genetic instructions that could provide advantages to the offspring when confronted with similar things as the parents did.
1:29:38 - 1:35:34 (05:56)
Summary
The possibility of passing on an acquired trait across human generations is entertained by injecting RNAs to worms, as shown to demonstrate similar cases, to have something in the genetic instructions that could provide advantages to the offspring when confronted with similar things as the parents did.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The speaker discusses the benefits and challenges of epigenetic inheritance, which can pass traits down for multiple generations, allowing species to adapt to changing environments.
1:35:34 - 1:44:22 (08:47)
Summary
The speaker discusses the benefits and challenges of epigenetic inheritance, which can pass traits down for multiple generations, allowing species to adapt to changing environments. However, predicting the future impact of this type of inheritance is difficult, as the world is ever-changing.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The brain uses a different language than the language of inheritance, and keeps information in synapses in the connection between different neurons.
1:44:22 - 1:55:56 (11:34)
Summary
The brain uses a different language than the language of inheritance, and keeps information in synapses in the connection between different neurons. Anticipation and reward is governed by the dopamine circuits and it's the same neural circuitry that's going to be repurposed when they get to reproductive age and are anticipating creating children.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The microenvironment in the germ cells informs not only the passage of genes to the next generation but also instructs somatic cells of the body what to do and become.
1:55:56 - 2:10:31 (14:34)
Summary
The microenvironment in the germ cells informs not only the passage of genes to the next generation but also instructs somatic cells of the body what to do and become. However, the challenge is proving how information transfers from the brain to germ cells and back to the brain for the receptor to operate.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The link between older fathers and their children having a higher probability of autism may be an epigenetic or nature-nurture phenomenon.
2:10:31 - 2:15:24 (04:52)
Summary
The link between older fathers and their children having a higher probability of autism may be an epigenetic or nature-nurture phenomenon. Three-parent IVF, a procedure that combines the DNA of three individuals, is potentially helpful in cases where older females have unhealthy mitochondrial DNA.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
A potential use of DNA-based diagnostics is the screening of genetic diseases for couples trying to have a child.
2:15:24 - 2:26:51 (11:27)
Summary
A potential use of DNA-based diagnostics is the screening of genetic diseases for couples trying to have a child. This could help prevent the transmission of genetic disorders to the next generation.
EpisodeDr. Oded Rechavi: Genes & the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations
PodcastHuberman Lab
The Huberman Lab Podcast partnered with Momentus Supplements to provide supplements that can help improve sleep, focus, and hormone support.
2:26:51 - 2:31:46 (04:55)
Summary
The Huberman Lab Podcast partnered with Momentus Supplements to provide supplements that can help improve sleep, focus, and hormone support. Currently, Momentus Supplements offer international shipping.