Altruism & Random Acts of Kindness - 2

More recently, researchers at Bonn University in Germany discovered that altruism is linked to a specific gene. Approximately 100 male and female participants underwent a cheek swab beforehand. The scientists extracted DNA for genetic analyses and focused on one gene, the COMT gene that is linked with an enzyme that inactivates certain messengers in the brain such as dopamine. There are two different variants of the COMT gene: COMT-Val and COMT-Met. Both versions, which occur in the population with approximately equal frequency, differ in only a single building block. Slight alterations in two of its variants—the Val/Val and the Val/Met variants—were associated with altruistic behaviors in both male and female study participants. Altruism can include healthy care-taking, random acts of kindness, and other behaviors that provide evidence of altruism. 

Altruism & Random Acts of Kindness

Is there any evidence about what causes people to be kind and altruistic? Is it learned behavior or is in in our DNA?

It’s been known for several years from studies on twins that altruistic behavior is partly influenced by genes. Altruism was known to be from 30–50% heritable in humans in both Western and non-Western populations. In a word, there is evidence that altruism is partly motivated by genetics. Researchers in the Department of Clinical Medicine, Næstved Hospital, Denmark studied altruism in blood donations. Using mathematical models, they determined that 50% of altruistic motivation is due to genes, 30% to a shared environment, and 20% to other factors. Individuals still have a choice whether to be to be kind and altruistic—or not.

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Post Heart Transplant Changes

In 2019 the National Institute of Health (NIH) released the abstract of a study report related to personality changes post heart transplants and the role of cellular memory. According to the abstract, four categories of personality changes were reviewed: (1) changes in preferences, (2) alterations in emotions/temperament, (3) modifications of identity, and (4) memories from the donor's life. The acquisition of donor personality characteristics by recipients following heart transplantation is hypothesized to occur via the transfer of cellular memory for which at least four types may exist: (1) epigenetic memory, (2) DNA memory, (3) RNA memory, and (4) protein memory. This suggests that transmission of cellular memory may happen in more than one way—and it happens. By the way, I hope your friend makes a complete recovery and does very well—potentially with an expanded memory due to someone’s kindness in donating their heart.

Heart Transplants & Cellular Memory

Several years ago I attended one of your presentations where you were talking about cellular memory in individuals who had received a heart transplant. I wrote it off as a bunch of bull. I may have been too hasty since experiencing changes in a friend of mine following a heart transplant. Could you please recap this for me?

I know. Ever since Dr. Bruce Lipton wrote about a book that included information about cellular memory, it has seemed to some as right up there with Science Fiction. What is known is that personality changes following heart transplantation have been reported for decades, in books and on the Internet, including accounts of recipients acquiring some of the donor’s personality characteristics. More tomorrow.

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Cynical Philosopher

I read somewhere that 4,153,237 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble or anything—shouldn't that be an even number?

I find it ironic that the colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom until they are flashing behind you.

When wearing a bikini, women reveal 90% of their body. Men are so polite that they only look at the covered parts.

I think it's pretty cool how the Chinese language is made entirely out of tattoo patterns.

 Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever thought about your X and wondered Y?

America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.

You know that tingly little feeling you get when you like someone? That's common sense rushing to evacuate from your brain.

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Breastfeeding & Alcohol

A study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience reported that approximately 30% of breastfeeding mothers in the United States consume alcohol. Approximately 60% of breastfeeding mothers in Australia consume alcohol. Approximately 20% of breastfeeding mothers in Canada consume alcohol. In addition, many women who chose to avoid drinking alcohol during their pregnancy reported beginning to drink again shortly after giving birth. Studies in mice at University of California, Riverside, reported that who were exposed to alcohol in breast milk postpartum day 6 through day 20 (equivalent to infancy in humans) had reduced brain and body weights and decreased neocortical lengths at wean. This continued through early puberty at age-day 30 compared with controls. Female brain weights eventually recovered; male brain weights did not. 

Alcohol & Breast Milk

My interfering Mother-in-law is on my case—again. So, she’s a nurse. That’s doesn’t mean she knows everything. She tells me to either stop drinking wine every night for dinner or stop breastfeeding. Just because she avoids alcohol, why should I?

 Your "interfering MIL" appears to be aware of current research. Studies at the University of California, Riverside, have reported that alcohol is transmitted through a mother’s breast milk. It can have long-lasting effects on fetal brain development and behavior. My guess is that she is concerned about the health and wellbeing of her grandchild. Is there some reason you are unconcerned? Children who were exposed to alcohol in breast milk tend to have lower body weights and growth trajectories.

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