Dr. Liat Yakir – Epigenetics

What affects the course of a person's life more, the genes he inherited from his parents or the environment he was exposed to? This question has occupied biologists for decades. Today, we understand that the environment changes our genes all the time. How are the experiences we have gained in life, the food we eat, the physical activity we do, our love patterns and even our sexual orientation affected by the environment? Can these changes be passed down from generation to generation? Can a parent pass on to his offspring traits he acquired during his lifetime? The overwhelming answer seems to be yes. Epigenetics is a fascinating new field that studies how the environment re-engineers our genes and affects our health and function.

Dr Liat Yakir is a biologist, lecturer and Empathy consultant. She lectures and studies the evolutionary roots of human behavior and helps organizations practice and elevate empathy skills, for the benefit of wellbeing and happiness of their employees. In the past Dr. Yakir participated as a biology expert in the popular program ‘Marriage at First Sight’ on Israeli national TV.