Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

kermitzarleyblog

New Study Reveals Lifestyle Affects DNA

Last updated on: April 28, 2025 at 11:51 am   by Kermit Zarley

0 Comments

New Study Reveals Lifestyle Affects DNA 2025-04-28T11:51:07-07:00 Kermit Zarley

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It is being increasingly accepted among scientists that lifestyle can affect human cells, changing them for better or for worse. Now it has been discovered that this change in DNA, called “epigenetics,” can be passed down to offspring to at least the second generation in mice and therefore likely the same in humans.

Gretchen Reynolds reports in The Washington Post today that researchers have been showing that what they call “developmental programming” occurs simply by what we eat. That affirms the provocative saying, “You are what you eat.”

But Reynold’s article, entitled “How exercising now could benefit your future grandchildren,” takes it a step further. She explains that according to this new study by medical researchers published in the journal Molecular Metabolism, “Today’s workout isn’t just about you. It etches itself into your cells in ways that can be passed to later generations.”

Researchers are proving this in medical labs with mice. Reynolds continues, “From birth, the mice with active grandmothers were leaner than the others and, in males, sported denser, healthier bones. Most interesting, as the animals moved through middle age, those with inactive grandmothers began developing poor blood-sugar control and worsening insulin sensitivity, signaling potential, incipient diabetes. These conditions are common with age and inactivity, in both rodents and people.”

Conversely, Reynolds further reports, “Those mice with an active grandmother maintained relatively healthy blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity deep into old age, despite being inactive themselves.”

Reynolds continues, ‘”It was remarkable,’ said Ana Alves-Wagner, a senior postdoctoral fellow at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School, who led the new study. ‘Exercise had improved the metabolic health of multiple generations.’”

Dr. Daniel Lieberman at Harvard University, an expert in this field, said, “We still don’t know the mechanisms by which this occurs in mice. Regardless, this study bolsters the view that when we exercise, we aren’t just doing it for ourselves.”

Health

"You are what you eat"

Developmental Programming

Epigenetics

Exercise Dividends

Molecular Metabolism

Previous Post



September 25, 2022

Americans Win the Presidents Cup

Next Post



October 1, 2022 Could Putin Cause a Nuclear War, Even World War III?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Glen, you seem to be advocating a preterist viewpoint, with which I disagree." I'm a ..."

Kermit Zarley


Family Estrangement Versus Honoring Father and ..."

"THESIS is a SCRIPTURE QUOTE.“Remember the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and by the ..."

glen smith


Family Estrangement Versus Honoring Father and ..."

"How are they going to answer it. They don't have unlimited financial resources. They're trying ..."

Kermit Zarley


Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Getting Much Worse

"...but isn't that an important question to answer?"

Harold Porter


Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Getting Much Worse


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Angels Billy Graham Blog Description Book Reviews Christian Living Christianity Christology Church History Current Events Deity of Christ? Disarmament Eschatology Evangelicalism Ezekiel 38-39 Film Reviews God Golf Gospel Harmonization Health History Holy Spirit Incarnation? Interview Islam Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Jesus Last Empire Literary Announcements Major Championship Winners Masters Monotheism My Books New Testament Old Testament Politics Primitive Weapons Ryder Cup Science Society of Biblical Literature The Bible The Restitution of Jesus Christ Trinitarianism Trinity? Uncategorized Unconditional Love? War on Terrorism

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Romans say about those who are led by the Spirit of God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

They are the children of God (or sons of God) They will not sin They will have eternal life They are saved

Books by This Author Books by Kermit Zarley Blog

See All Titles »

Related posts from Kermit Zarley Blog

Family

Ebola Is Spreading in The Democratic Republic of...

Kermit Zarley Blog

Family

Why Jesus Said Don't Tell of His Healings...

Kermit Zarley Blog

Family

Barna Study Says Worldview Affects Mental Health

Kermit Zarley Blog

Family

New Analysis Confirms Wuhan Market as Origin of...

Kermit Zarley Blog

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

The Sermon on the Mount, Part I: Matthew...

The Sermon on the Mount, Part I (Matthew 4:12-5:12) St. Matthew moves...

What's up from Crossway

What's up from Crossway: Reviewing some of their latest A few weeks...

Janie Learns the Way of the Cross: A...

Teaching children about Jesus' Passion can be challenging. Many parents and educators...

Looking For Good Catholic Writing - October 2026

He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of...

Luther on Tools

In "Irreplaceable," our book on vocation and technology, Trevor Sutton and I...

The British Museum-- Part Two

I was strolling through the top floor of the brand new Parthenon...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

What Are Your Thoughts?leave a comment

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube