Part I.

Genetics and Epigenetics

Based on your readings, please explain how you think genetics and epigenetics affects:

 us, as persons,
 how we view and interact with others,
 the kinds of perceptions and judgments we have about people, cultures, and populations,
 how public policy, government benefits, corporate structure, and other systemic
structures can be changed (if needed), and
 how our own values can change or be modified to make room for a new
understanding of epigenetics

Part II. Indigenous understanding of Genetics and Epigenetics

 Please describe how your culture explains heritability (genetics and epigenetics). You
can incorporate customary practices, beliefs, rituals, myths, and academic studies.

I think that genetics and epigenetics affect every single person, as they are the things that
combine through a single fertilized egg from the mother and sperm from the father. Whatever
happens in the fertilization phase will determine what we look like etc. We can have a chance of
having different mutations that may be good or may not for us.
We do not have the same kind of looks because of our mutations. When we view and interact
with others, I do not consider their race, gender, ethnicity, or differences. I only look at them as
human beings.
Genes affect how we recognize different races. For instance, blacks are fitter and more muscular
than other races. That affects groups of blacks who have a culture around different genetics. That
makes us have different assumptions about people, cultures, and populations.
If someone was born with disabled genes, there were certain advantages from the government.
For instance, someone who has autism spectrum disorder can do the work with the help of
others. The government and some social associations help that kind of people. When we apply
for some vacancies, the employer needs to know if I am disabled or not.
We can change our values on people badly affected by epigenetics. We do not look at that person
as cursed. For instance, when we study epigenetics, we can see that that is a mutation and not a
curse.
When I consider my culture, some people who are non-educated in rural areas do not believe that
kind of disorder is a genetic or epigenetics problem. They believe in certain things as
supernatural or demonic power. I have heard from my grandparents that some people preach
mantras and dance with devil masks and noises to cure some genetic disorders spending lots of
money. However, I have never seen that kind of occasion. Some people discriminate against
patients who suffer from genetic disorders. In my view, I hate that kind of discrimination, and it
is sad that happenings’.

Reference

Spielman, R., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M. & Perlmutter, M.
(2017). Psychology. OpenStax College, Rice University.

https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology.

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