"I have strong loving feelings for you." This tends to a truth you would actually tell a person you value and with whom you would share a relationship. But my question for my readers is, at what point in a relationship do you express your love for the other person by saying "I love you"? Do you have or show any signs that indicate that you are in love? What is the point at which you can establish the parameters of your relationship? What is the point when you would even announce your relationship on Facebook? Many of us are familiar with the additional feelings that come along with being in love: those butterflies in your stomach, your clammy hands, and a mix of excitement and trepidation that makes you both nervous and eager for more all at the same time. When you fall in love, there is a multitude of emotions and sensations that accompany the experience. It can seem like nothing more than a great deal of sorrow and wealth. Your brain undergoes various modifications in the process as well. Oxytocin, commonly referred to as the "love chemical", is released in abundance when one experiences strong emotions. Being infatuated is merely a physical response. Ever since you were able to take your first steps, tales of love have been shared with you by all. Do we always have a genetic predisposition to fall in love, or has our capacity for romantic attachment been shaped by our environment? This age-old question ponders whether the behaviors and traits of individuals are due to environmental influences or genetic inheritance. No definite answer may ever be available.
What do we mean when we talk about the debate between "Nature vs. Nurture" anyway? By the term "Nature", we are referring to those traits which have been inherited genetically and passed on from one generation to another, apart from a rare mutation that may occur in the meantime. "Nurture" can refer to things that are acquired through learning or as a result of one's environment, such as the ability to ride a bike or the consequence of excessive sun exposure leading to skin cancer. Can someone handle stress well though? Do you think you have that trait because of your genes, or is it the result of your environment? What is the origin of gender identity: is it innate or acquired through experience? Do you also have the capability to irritate others? Would you like to inquire of that irritating person at work: "Is your behavior innate or something you have honed? Do you rehearse it in front of the mirror each day?" Certain traits do not result from nature or nurture, but rather something else entirely: epigenetics. Now, epigenetics refers to the external modifications to DNA that can change gene expression without altering the underlying genetic code. Your genetics is akin to the hardware of a computer, while your epigenetics can be compared to its software or operating system. The environment can alter your DNA due to your epigenetics allowing it to do so. An example of epigenetics that is widely renowned to one and all is the reaction to tension and conflict.
In Montreal, a research team employed rats to try and answer the query: "Does being a watchful parent have an impact on the genetic makeup of one's offspring?" They examined two groups of rats. In population number one, the mothers were incredibly caring and devoted to their babies, showing affection through licking and grooming. The little rat babies had been given the utmost respect and care. Mom constantly gave them cuddles, helped them tie their shoes and chauffeured them to soccer practice on a daily basis. These baby rats had a great life. The researchers examined the genetic material of these infant rats, and it turned out to have been in good condition. On the other hand though, the mothers in population number two did not demonstrate much nurturing behavior. There was no licking, no petting, and certainly no snuggling whatsoever. These mother rat were not paying very close attention to their children at all if you ask me. Examining the DNA of the second population infant rats, researchers observed unexpected patterns on the stress response gene. These peculiar markings were located precisely on the gene. In reality, these infant rats were unable to cope with any kind of stress. The same conduct was maintained throughout their entire lives. And just for fun, they chose to analyze the DNA of their grandchildren while they were at it. The stress response gene of the grandchildren had also been deactivated. So is it conceivable then that this is the case? What kind of impact can a mother's nurturing have on the DNA of her babies and children in the end?
What does come to mind when we think about DNA itself? DNA (short for deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule which has a slender, lengthy shape. The amount of DNA contained in the human body is so vast that it could be stretched around the Earth two and a half million times if it were to be unraveled. What is the method that enables all of your DNA to be packed into your body in such an orderly configuration so as to govern everything anyway? Your DNA is spiraled around countless miniature, microscopic coils, comprising of an unfathomable number of them. We can observe DNA in our own imaginations in remarkable detail, right down to the atomic level. The molecules are coiled around histones, which could have a blue hue in our illusionary example, in a manner similar to thread on spools. Initially, the stress response is deactivated. But once our baby rats receive hugs and cuddles, their brains release serotonin. When serotonin binds to something called lysine number four, it acts like a light switch being switched on. This chemical modification, known as acylation, causes the spools to come undone and unwinds the DNA, thereby exposing the stress response portion of the cell. Our infant rodents are in good health and content. It is similar to a garden hose. Now imagine a garden hose stretching for one mile in this theater, suspended magically in the air. Are you familiar with the plastic spools used to coil and store garden hoses? Well, now picture thousands of those same spools winding and unwinding, with great accuracy instigating the activation and deactivation of genes. It almost seems as if these spools possess some sort of magical capabilities. They are aware of the occurrences that are transpiring in their vicinity. By controlling the precise timing, they are able to activate and deactivate genes when it is necessary. The beauty of their work is such that they can take a single egg cell and transform it into an embryo, before eventually giving birth to a newborn baby. Our molecular spools act like a maestro or DJ (short for disc jockey), manipulating and controlling the action as if it was in a grand ballroom dance. They are constantly winding and unwinding to create the desired effect. And if our hose were to be brightly colored green and luminescent, then we would definitely have a proper rave happening here. You know, like the song: "Boots, cuts, boots, cuts, boots, cuts, boots and, cuts, boots, cuts, boots, cuts cuts". That is all for now. Epigenetics 101 after all can be thought of as a big celebration inside your cells, where the intertwining of DNA and environmental influences come together.
But what about gender identification? Did I come into the world as a girl or did I develop into one over time? The asking of this question has caused the end of most of my romantic relationships. After all, I am a transgender woman myself. I had a difficult time for a long period of time, until I eventually summoned the strength to express my true self. Contemplating the complexity of love is a difficult task, yet for me it can be likened to examining the intricacy of a DNA molecule; it is that complex. And yet I am fortunate to have had my parents constantly nurturing me, so I have a good supply of serotonin which helps me cope with pressure and make it to the point where I am now, standing before you all to come out about it. I have been inspired by Laverne Cox, Geena Rocero and Janet Mock as I take my own steps forward. My therapist had mentioned to me while I was in therapy that it would be a great breakthrough if we could discover the genetic roots of gender dysphoria. The phrase "rock star" was even uttered by her, and with good reason: who would not want to be viewed as such? I was employed in the area of RNA (short for ribonucleic acid) when I was still in session back then. This is the molecular cousin of DNA. I took a seat down at my computer and searched for information on the relationship between RNA and gender identity. The only success that I could find from my research was an entry known as "steroid receptor RNA activator". This facilitates estrogen in performing its function rather well. The factor that causes a sex reversal is bound directly by this activator as well. Inspired, I paid a visit to my postdoctoral supervisor, Irina. I shared with her how no one is familiar with the RNA molecule that I have discovered. And Irina commented on the vastness of RNA, stating that studying it is likely to be a formidable task. Still, I asked her if this would be suitable to be my new project? Irina affirmatively replied back in return with "Let us give it a go!", and so deeper investigation into RNA was a must by this point.
But first, let us recall our molecular spools in order to provide some context for our following case. The genes inside cells are always up to date and in motion. They appeared to have an uncanny understanding of when and where they should be in order to know what was going on and what to do. So, what is the source of information for these spools? Various entities across the globe are competing with each other to solve this problem. Some speculate that RNA might be the answer. It has been observed that RNA molecules have the capacity to recognize their surroundings, just as their DNA counterparts do. They are capable of attaching themselves to drugs and vitamins. If our large RNA molecule had a complex arrangement, then it could effectively communicate with the spools and provide them with all of the necessary information about what is occurring inside and outside the cell. If RNA had a mind of its own even, it could think like "Wow, it is so cold in this area of the room." and thus suspend certain parts of the cell in cryogenic hibernation. Likewise, it could serve up energy like a waitress at a diner, to stimulate genes to rewiring emotions with pleasurable actions, thinking "The presence of caffeine in this part of the cell is quite extraordinary." But in the end, RNA will always remember the "fight or flight" response on behalf of the whole human body, compelling genes and everything else inside it to run and turn tail with warning signs such as "Flee immediately! It is a sperm cell!" Alternatively, if our large RNA was without any shape, such as a bowl of spaghetti, then it would be impossible for it to communicate clearly with the spool and all that could be heard from it would essentially be gibberish, like: "We are going to Cop O Dop E Rop E DOP! I repeat: we are going to Cop O Dop E Rop E DOP! I repeat: " Of course, that would not be completely incomprehensible gibberish. This secret Op language from The Big Bang Theory is just an example, and you might understand the concept regardless.
At long last, this is the conclusion we have come to. Our RNA molecule has had structure throughout the large size of the cell. Altogether, there are twenty-five helical structures that are involved in a variety of interactions. This is merely a small step forward in our research, yet it has demonstrated that RNA could possibly be the solution we have been looking for. Studies have demonstrated that RNA molecules can contribute to the development of Alzheimer's and autism, while epigenetic effects seem to be strongly associated with addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. A decade ago, we could not even comprehend how these could come to be. But at present, we have made it to the early stages of the vaccine process. One day, it might be possible then that the meaning of love will finally be understood. At that point, we can then ask ourselves: what are the signs that you are in love? When your kids ask you in the future, "How do you know if you are in love?" you may be able to answer their question with a simple explanation: when lysine four on histone three at the oxytocin receptor gene is chemically modified. However, this is something we cannot yet confirm for now. But at least you can tell yourself eventually that you are in love when that special positive feeling overwhelms you for the best.
See also: https://mygodsentangels.com/