# Can behavior affect our DNA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736 "2023-11-07T06:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/61 "2023-11-08T19:32:09Z")
Accidental dupe. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/62 "2023-11-08T19:38:37Z")
Yes, thanks! Wikipedia: More than 3,000 mainstream [biologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biologist) were dismissed or imprisoned, and numerous scientists were executed in the Soviet campaign to [suppress scientific opponents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressed_research_in_the_Soviet_Union) Sorry, comrade, cannot attend concert. Cutting legs off 5,000 baby frogs. Is scientific research. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/63 "2023-11-08T19:41:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > More than 3,000 mainstream [biologists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biologist) were dismissed or imprisoned, and numerous scientists were executed in the Soviet campaign to [suppress scientific opponents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressed_research_in_the_Soviet_Union) That was the least of it. He is arguably the scientist responsible for the most human deaths in history, through famine in Russia and China. > **[The Soviet Era's Deadliest Scientist Is Regaining Popularity in Russia](https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/12/trofim-lysenko-soviet-union-russia/548786/)** > > Trofim Lysenko’s spurious research prolonged famines that killed millions. So why is a fringe movement praising his legacy? > The [People’s Republic of China](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China) under Mao Zedong adopted his methods starting in 1958, with calamitous results, culminating in the [Great Chinese Famine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine) of 1959 to 1962, in which some 15–55 million people died. [Trofim Lysenko - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trofim_Lysenko#Consequences_of_Lysenkoism) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/64 "2023-11-08T19:42:40Z")
Yeah, I know. I’d known generally about it, but I just finished reading _The Genius of Dogs,_ and Brian Hare, the author, went into some detail about Lysenko and Belyaev (the man who studied foxes in defiance of Lysenko). Fascinating and heartbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/65 "2023-11-08T19:46:02Z")
Wow. Much worse than I knew. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/66 "2023-11-08T19:46:29Z")
Lack of objectivity toward a poster or a topic have the same results. I think in this case I will ignore the sarcasm and just proceed to make my case that it is a viable topic. If I can successfully establish that it will serve my purpose. There is quite a bit of research available mostly pertaining to the condition of the female’s womb. that there is a selection process at work that increases the chances of some sperm making it to the egg. My premise is that part of that selection process might take place before it leaves the man and it might be affected by the cocktail of neuro chemicals present in the semen before and at the time of delivery. We do know this cocktail of chemicals is extremely large and that we know relatively little about it primarily because of it’s complexity. So I will check back in when I have something else to report. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/67 "2023-11-08T19:52:10Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > So I will check back in when I have something else to report. Great, I look forward to reading all the CITED research that you come back with! Based on the paper I linked about Da Vinci above, I suspect that if you want to find literature supporting your claim that cerebrospinal fluid flows into semen, you will probably need to search PubMed for dates earlier than 1500, that hypothesis has not garnered much research attention for the last 500 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/68 "2023-11-08T19:52:29Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > So I will check back in when I have something else to report. So, you’ll be in your lab for the time? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/69 "2023-11-08T19:59:51Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I suspect that if you want to find literature supporting your claim that cerebrospinal fluid flows into semen, you will probably need to search PubMed for dates earlier tha That is a very good point and something I have been and still am not clear on. I still have not established how much exposure the semen has to the actual cocktail of neuro chemicals. If you can point me to a place that will establish that I might drop this question on the spot. My entire premise is based on this. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/70 "2023-11-08T20:00:19Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > Also, if “spinal” is the word you intended here, then you’ll need to study some basic biology. It is indeed the word he intended, if you read his other posts. I wasn’t going to link to it, but at as footnote to this trainwreck it’s obvious that this is the source for the OP. It comes up at the top of google searches for me on related terms for me as a paid promoted link, no doubt the same for OP. I have broken the link, please don’t give them hits. [https://www](https://www). allohealth.care/healthfeed/sex-education/cerebrospinal-fluid-in-sperm > Cerebrospinal fluid plays a key role in male fertility. It provides a supportive environment for the sperm, helping them to swim towards the female egg, and increasing the chances of fertilization. CSF also helps regulate the temperature in the male reproductive tract, which is important for sperm viability. > > In addition to its role in male fertility, cerebrospinal fluid also plays a crucial role in female reproduction. It helps to nourish and protect the developing fetus during pregnancy, and provides a cushioning effect that helps to protect the fetus from injury. Allo Health is apparently “India’s first digital clinic for your sexual well-being”. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/71 "2023-11-08T20:05:23Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > Cerebrospinal fluid plays a key role in male fertility. It provides a supportive environment for the sperm, helping them to swim towards the female egg, and increasing the chances of fertilization. CSF also helps regulate the temperature in the male reproductive tract, which is important for sperm viability. > > > > In addition to its role in male fertility, cerebrospinal fluid also plays a crucial role in female reproduction. It helps to nourish and protect the developing fetus during pregnancy, and provides a cushioning effect that helps to protect the fetus from injury. > > Allo Health is apparently “India’s first digital clinic for your sexual we Thank You, good info. would you at least agree that a potential variable does exist in that period of time while the man is holding the semen? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/72 "2023-11-08T20:05:42Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Thank You, good info. Oh dear. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/73 "2023-11-08T20:16:44Z")
To spell it out: [Cerebrospinal fluid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebrospinal_fluid), [amniotic fluid](https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/amniotic-fluid), and [seminal fluid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen) are three different things. This is, as has been said in this thread, utterly basic biology. The web site quoted is talking utter nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/74 "2023-11-08T20:23:44Z")
I had not visited the website yet I would have probably discovered that. I fully realize that all the fluids are totally separate my question is are the neurochemical presence in the semen. I know a lot of them are present in the blood ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/75 "2023-11-08T20:28:15Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I had not visited the website… **I fully realize that all the fluids are totally separate** [My bold] Oh really. Here are some of your posts: > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The only thing I could think of was that chemicals and hormones produced in our brain might react more with certain sperm stimulating them to have a better chance of reaching the egg. I was amazed to discover how close the relationship is between our brain and our semen. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > My question was very specifically related to sperm responding differently to the whatever chemical were present in our spinal fluid shortly before ejaculation. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I googles the question, " Does semen interact with spinal fluid". This is where I learned of the strong relation between the two. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The testes are more closely associated with the brain than any other organ in our body. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The seminal fluid contains the same chemicals and hormones circulating through the rest of the spinal fluid system. Comparing your posts to the extract from that crank Allo Health website that I posted, there is no doubt in my mind that this was the source for the nonsense in your OP and subsequent posts. Again, this is the promoted Google hit at the top of several searches on this topic, and I can’t find any other post-1500 source saying anything similar. If you claim that this was not the source of your misinformation, PROVIDE A CITE to refute it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/76 "2023-11-08T20:29:15Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I still have not established how much exposure the semen has to the actual cocktail of neuro chemicals. If you can point me to a place that will establish that I might drop this question on the spot. My entire premise is based on this. So… It appears your entire premise is based on something you know nothing about, are not clear on, and don’t even know where to start to look for information… This does not bode well. It’s like I started a thread saying “I don’t know anything about car mechanics or engines, or really anything about mechanical things, but I read something somewhere that says that if you run the car exhaust into the gas tank, you can drive forever. Let’s discuss the science I’m doing here by asking questions!” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/77 "2023-11-08T20:46:23Z")
Nm, I was wrong ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/78 "2023-11-08T20:49:07Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So… It appears your entire premise is based on something you know nothing about, are not clear on, and don’t even know where to start to look for information Of course I don’t know much about it, if I did I would not have asked the question. I did some reading on it but wasn’t able to find answers to my questions so I came here hoping someone might be familiar with this. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/79 "2023-11-08T20:51:35Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > But aside from that, it’s sort of a “So What?. Your sperm cells aren’t like snowflakes, with the exception of the sex chromosomes they all carry the exact same DNA. Which traits the unborn child inherits is determined after sperm meets the egg. It’s not like you can think about football to increase the chance of a football inclined sperm cell being first to penetrate the egg, because your sperm cells all carry the same DNA, with the exception of the sex chromosome Thank You, This kills it. I had no idea they all carried the same message. I was under the impression the was more variance in individual sperm. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736/80 "2023-11-08T20:52:21Z")
I just fact checked my answer it seems it might have been wrong, though. I couldn’t edit it out fast enough [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-behavior-affect-our-dna/992736.md?page=5)