The study of 48 Syrian families reveals that genes of violence are inherited by future generations.
March 7, 2025187 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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A recent scientific study conducted on a number of Syrian families concluded that "violence leaves its mark on human genes for many future generations, meaning that "wars, chaos, and violence not only affect the humans who experience them but also extend their impact to future generations and decades to come." According to the study, whose results were published in a report by the specialized website "Science Alert" and reviewed by "Al Arabiya Net" as reported on its official website, "a life filled with tension can leave marks on our genetic code, some of which can be passed on to our children." The study reveals how the biological impact of trauma continues for a long period on the mother even after the violent events themselves have passed. An international team of researchers explains the physical mechanisms behind intergenerational trauma in humans, clarifying "why individuals with a family history of hardships are more susceptible to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, despite not experiencing negative events themselves." The researchers analyzed the DNA collected from 48 Syrian families spanning three generations, including grandmothers or mothers who fled during the siege and massacre in Hama in 1982 or fled from the events in 2011. By closely working with these families now living in Jordan, the researchers collected cheek swabs from 131 individuals, which were later analyzed for genetic signature changes. Connie Mulligan, an anthropologist at the University of Florida, says: "Families want their story to be told." Using families who left Syria before 1980 as controls, the team found modifications in 14 genomic regions associated with violence in individuals whose grandmothers witnessed the events in Hama in 1982. What is more, "eight of these modifications persisted in grandchildren who did not directly experience violence." The results also showed signs of accelerated genetic aging, which may increase the risk of age-related diseases. Additionally, 21 other genomic regions showed signs of direct changes resulting from the violence in the war in Syria. The changes observed by the researchers were consistent between violence victims and their offspring, indicating that conflict pressures altered the chemical messages associated with these genes, as reported by "Science Alert."
