http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2010/01/25/infecting-big-think/ Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:13:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2010/01/25/infecting-big-think/#comment-13295 Pat Beiting Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:10:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=2250#comment-13295 When observable behaviors neither advance the survival of the species nor the survival of the individual organism, the possibility that the behavior is being driven by parasites or pathogens provides a scientifically credible explanation. Several years ago, a "thought experiment" led me to formulate this possibility, so it is very exciting to hear a discussion along these lines. I, too, would be interested in the state of the research. When observable behaviors neither advance the survival of the species nor the survival of the individual organism, the possibility that the behavior is being driven by parasites or pathogens provides a scientifically credible explanation. Several years ago, a “thought experiment” led me to formulate this possibility, so it is very exciting to hear a discussion along these lines. I, too, would be interested in the state of the research.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2010/01/25/infecting-big-think/#comment-13294 Neill Kramer Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:36:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=2250#comment-13294 Has there been research on the relation between viruses and epigenetics?For example, with identical twins would it be possible to trace exposure to flus in childhood and then track changes in the behavior of the twins over time - one becoming gay and the other straight for example. Perhaps there's a relationship between external viruses and the 8% of our genome that are "dormant" viruses, and that relationship effects epigenetic triggers that turn genes on and off. Has there been research on the relation between viruses and epigenetics?For example, with identical twins would it be possible to trace exposure to flus in childhood and then track changes in the behavior of the twins over time – one becoming gay and the other straight for example. Perhaps there’s a relationship between external viruses and the 8% of our genome that are “dormant” viruses, and that relationship effects epigenetic triggers that turn genes on and off.

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