Epigenetics: Tales of Adversity
Dutch Hunger Winter caused increased obesity rates in exposed children
This Nature overview synthesizes the Dutch Hunger Winter studies and their broader implications for understanding transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. It documents increased obesity rates in children whose mothers were malnourished during pregnancy, and provides evidence that effects persisted into subsequent generations.
The research reveals a critical business insight: environmental stress during formative periods doesn't just affect the current generation - it can create epigenetic marks that persist through organizational 'generations' (leadership transitions, cultural transmission to new hires). Companies that experience trauma (near-bankruptcy, layoffs, crises) may carry epigenetic 'thrifty' phenotypes that remain long after conditions improve.
Key Findings from Editorial (2010)
- Dutch Hunger Winter caused increased obesity rates in exposed children
- Effects persisted into the third generation (grandchildren)
- Epigenetic marks can be adaptive or maladaptive depending on current environment
- Thrifty phenotypes are advantageous during scarcity but harmful during abundance