Seasonal Genes & The Science of Fear

TL;DR

Genes associated with the immune system change expression based on the seasons, potentially explaining why some diseases worsen in winter. Fruit flies exhibit fear-like behaviors, providing insights into the biological and evolutionary origins of fear.

Transcript

It’ll soon be summer here in the northern hemisphere, and winter for those of you on the other half of the planet. Of course, plenty of things change with the seasons: the weather, the number of daylight hours, whether or not you have school... And according to new research, there are other things that change, as well- like your genes. For a long t... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 Seasonal changes affect gene expression associated with the immune system, potentially explaining the worsening of certain diseases during specific seasons.
• 🍹 The ARNTL gene, more active during summer, may explain the exacerbation of autoimmune diseases during winter due to reduced inflammation suppression.
• 🧑‍🚒 Genes responsible for producing antibodies fighting diseases like influenza are more active during winter, suggesting a potential optimal time for vaccination.
• 😨 Fruit flies exhibit fear-like behaviors, which can be studied to understand the biological and evolutionary origins of fear in humans.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do certain diseases, like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis, worsen during winter?

Genes associated with the immune system change expression based on the seasons, and during winter, the genes responsible for reducing inflammation are less active.

Q: Which gene is known to suppress inflammation in mice and is more active in summer?

The ARNTL gene is known to suppress inflammation in mice and is more active during the summer season.

Q: Why may winter be the best time to vaccinate against diseases like influenza?

Genes that code for antibodies fighting diseases like influenza are more active during winter, suggesting that winter may be the optimal time for vaccination to elicit a strong immune response.

Q: What behaviors in fruit flies were identified as fear-like responses?

Fear-like behaviors in fruit flies were identified as persistent freezing and erratic hopping when shadows passed over them, especially when the shadow was repeatedly present.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Research shows that genes associated with the immune system change expression based on the seasons, which may explain why certain diseases worsen during winter.

• An immune system gene called ARNTL, known to suppress inflammation in mice, is more active in summer, potentially explaining why autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis flare up in winter.

• Genes that code for antibodies fighting diseases like influenza are more active during winter, suggesting that winter may be the optimal time for vaccination.