Update Date: 2009/01/20 22:15

Many people believe that a person's height, weight, and even the presence of congenital diseases or defects are determined by genes. However, the notion that genes determine everything is about to be overturned. Assistant Professor Wang Sun-Chung from the Institute of Systems Biology at Central University, in collaboration with research teams from Canada and Sweden, has discovered a chemical reaction on genes called methylation. This gene methylation can cause significant differences even between identical twins.

The research team analyzed 114 pairs of identical twins and 80 pairs of fraternal twins worldwide and found that even under identical DNA sequences, different physiological reactions can occur due to differences in gene methylation. This is usually related to lifestyle, dietary habits, and environment, whether good or bad, it can also be passed on to the next generation.

This is the first time such a theory has been verified in humans, indicating that genes do not determine everything. These findings have been published in the internationally renowned journal Nature Genetics. Wang Sun-Chung stated that genetics has entered a new field. To pass on better gene methylation to the next generation, it is best to consume more vitamin B group and green vegetables, while drinking alcohol and consuming too much fat can plant bad roots for the next generation.

Reported by Lin Jingmei and Chen Boyu in Taipei.

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