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 longheld 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 experiencebased 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.

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Dr. Rechavi
Academic Profile: https://enlifesci.tau.ac.il/profile/...
Lab Website: https://www.odedrechavilab.com
Twitter:   / odedrechavi  
TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/oded_rechav...

Articles
Neuronal Small RNAs Control Behavior Transgenerationally: https://bit.ly/2HZxrzO
Transgenerational Inheritance of an Acquired Small RNABased Antiviral Response in C. elegans: https://bit.ly/41xRf47

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, MultiGenerational 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; 3Parent In Vitro Fertilization (IVF); RNA Testing
02:17:56 Deliberate Cold Exposure, Learning & Memory
02:29:26 ZeroCost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac https://www.blabacphoto.com

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