war_with_myself
Overlord
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Bullying Changes Genes in Children's DNA, Scientists Say
The chemical structure of part of a young child's DNA, or genetic blueprint, is physically changed by bullying, leaving the victim less able to respond properly to the stress, according to a study of English children.
abcnews.go.com
New research shows that the chemical structure surrounding part of the genetic blueprint of a young child is physically changed by bullying, leaving the victim less able to respond properly to the stress and possibly paving the way for mental problems later in life.
The findings challenge the popular assumption that DNA is largely immutable, remaining basically unchanged throughout a person's life. But what does change, according to the research, is how one critical gene known to be involved in regulating mood is crippled, leaving the victim unable to deal with the stress.
Sounds like 90% of this forum.Overreacting to stress can be harmful, of course, but failing to react in a reasonable manner isn't healthy either, she added. Her previous research shows that "children who were bullied or maltreated showed less reactivity to stress and had more problems in social interaction and had more externalized problems, such as aggression."