How You Know You're in Love: Epigenetics, Stress & Gender Identity | Karissa Sanbonmatsu | TEDxABQ

Summary

This TED Talk explores the complex nature of love and identity through the lens of epigenetics. The speaker discusses the physiological aspects of falling in love, including the role of oxytocin, and delves into the 'Nature vs. Nurture' debate. Using the example of rat behavior, the talk illustrates how nurturing can epigenetically affect stress response in offspring. The speaker, a transgender woman, also shares her personal journey and speculates on the potential role of RNA in understanding gender identity and complex conditions like love, addiction, and mental health.

Takeaways

• 💬 The speaker humorously discusses the timing of saying 'I love you' and making a relationship official, including on social media.
• 🧠 Falling in love triggers physiological changes in the brain, including the release of oxytocin, often referred to as the 'love chemical'.
• 🤔 The nature versus nurture debate is introduced, questioning whether the ability to fall in love is genetic or learned from one's environment.
• 🧬 'Nature' refers to genetically programmed traits, while 'Nurture' pertains to learned behaviors or environmental influences.
• 🧫 The concept of epigenetics is explained as changes above genetics, where environment can alter DNA, using the example of attentive rat mothers and their offspring's stress response.
• 🔬 Epigenetic marks on DNA can affect not just an individual but also subsequent generations, as shown in the rat study.
• 🌟 The DNA molecule's structure is highlighted, emphasizing how it's organized and controlled within the body.
• 🧪 The role of serotonin in epigenetics is discussed, particularly how it can chemically modify DNA through a process involving lysine 4 on histone 3.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The speaker shares a personal story as a transgender woman, reflecting on the complexity of love and identity.
• 🔬 The potential link between RNA, a molecule related to DNA, and gender identity is explored, suggesting RNA could influence gene expression related to sex characteristics.
• 🌐 The speaker envisions a future where understanding the biochemical basis of love might be as simple as recognizing a specific epigenetic modification.

Q & A

What is the physiological response to falling in love?

Falling in love is a physiological response that involves the brain being flooded with oxytocin, often referred to as the love chemical.

What is the difference between 'Nature' and 'Nurture' as discussed in the script?

'Nature' refers to genetically programmed traits passed down from generation to generation, while 'Nurture' refers to traits that are learned or influenced by one's environment.

What is epigenetics and how does it relate to the environment?

Epigenetics is a layer above genetics that allows the environment to change DNA. It is like the software or operating system that controls how genes are expressed.

How did the study on rats demonstrate the impact of maternal nurturing on DNA?

The study showed that baby rats from nurturing mothers had normal DNA, while those from less nurturing mothers had marks on their DNA at the stress response gene, making them unable to handle stress.

What is the role of serotonin in the epigenetic response to stress?

Serotonin acts as a trigger for chemical modifications that cause the DNA to unwind, exposing the stress response part to the cell, which is crucial for the baby rats' well-being.

What is the analogy used in the script to explain how DNA is organized within cells?

DNA is compared to a very long garden hose that is wound around tiny spools, with these spools being able to control gene expression with precision.

How does the speaker relate their personal journey with gender identity to the concept of epigenetics?

The speaker, being transgender, explores the possibility of a genetic basis for gender dysphoria and connects it to the idea that environmental factors can affect gene expression, as seen in epigenetics.

What is the significance of RNA in the context of the script?

RNA is suggested as a potential messenger that can sense the environment and communicate with the molecular spools to control gene expression, including possibly influencing gender identity.

What was the outcome of the research on the 'big RNA molecule' mentioned in the script?

The research found that the big RNA molecule had structure everywhere, with 25 helices and various interactions, suggesting that RNA could play a role in epigenetic effects.

How does the speaker envision the future understanding of love in terms of genetics?

The speaker humorously suggests that in the future, love might be understood and identified through specific chemical modifications on genes, such as lysine 4 on histone 3 at the oxytocin receptor gene.

What are the broader implications of epigenetics discussed in the script?

Epigenetics has strong ties to various conditions like Alzheimer's, autism, addiction, depression, and schizophrenia, and understanding it could lead to breakthroughs in these areas.