Inheriting More Than Grandma’s Sofa: The Science of Epigenetics

Inheriting More Than Grandma’s Sofa: The Science of Epigenetics

-       Dr Madhavi Garnepudi

Calmwaterstherapystudio.com

Did you know you don’t just inherit your family’s long nose or their curious taste in upholstery - you may also inherit their experiences? Welcome to the fascinating world of epigenetics.

By definition, epigenetics literally means “on top of your genes.” It’s the study of changes in gene expression that don’t alter the DNA sequence itself, but rather how those genes are switched on or off. Think of your DNA as the sheet music to a symphony. Epigenetics is the conductor deciding which instruments play loudly, and when the music crescendos.

What’s most intriguing (and a little mind-bending) is that these changes can be passed down to future generations. That means the stress, or trauma your grandparents experienced could still echo in your biology today.

Trauma That Travels Downstream

Take the case of Holocaust survivors and their children. Research by Rachel Yehuda and colleagues at Mount Sinai found that descendants of survivors showed lower baseline cortisol levels compared to peers (Yehuda et al., 2016). Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone, essential for regulating how we respond to danger. Lower cortisol might sound like a good thing, but it can actually make it harder to recover from stress. Their stress-response systems had been “retuned” by history.

Another striking example comes from the Dutch Hunger Winter during World War II. Babies conceived during the famine were found, decades later, to have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. (Heijmans et al., 2008).

How Does This Work?

Environmental stressors-like trauma, famine, or chronic stress-can leave chemical marks on DNA, often by adding tags called methyl groups. These don’t change the DNA itself, but they influence whether certain genes are expressed. Some of these changes persist across generations, like sticky notes. So, while you didn’t live through 911 or your grandfather’s migration, your body may carry subtle reminders in how it regulates stress, metabolism, or even emotion.

From Science to Story

This is the basis of what’s often called ancestral trauma - the idea that unresolved pain and suffering don’t just vanish but echo through family lines. In my forthcoming book Broken Made Whole, I share the story of Jane, a woman whose struggles with self-worth and boundaries were not only shaped by her own childhood, but by her mother’s silence in the face of betrayal and her grandmother’s hidden wounds. Jane’s healing journey shows us that trauma may be inherited, but so can resilience.

Why This Matters

Here’s the hopeful part: epigenetics isn’t destiny. Just as experiences can silence or activate genes in damaging ways, healing can reshape them too. As I elaborate in my book - therapy, mindfulness, good nutrition, and social support may positively influence gene expression. In other words, resilience and recovery can also ripple forward.

So yes, you may have inherited your uncle’s laugh and your father’s stubborn streak, but you’ve also inherited their survival. Epigenetics reminds us: our family stories echo in our very cells. And the chapter you write now could become a healthier legacy for the generations after you.

References

• Yehuda, R., et al. (2016). Holocaust exposure induced intergenerational effects on FKBP5 methylation. Biological Psychiatry.
• Heijmans, B.T., et al. (2008). Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humans. PNAS.