15 Is DNA Destiny?

What is jigsaw Learning?

Jigsaw is a cooperative learning strategy that enables each student of a “home” group to specialize in one aspect of a topic (for example, one group studies habitats of rainforest animals, another group studies predators of rainforest animals). Students meet with members from other groups who are assigned the same aspect, and after mastering the material, return to the “home” group and teach the material to their group members. With this strategy, each student in the “home” group serves as a piece of the topic’s puzzle and when they work together as a whole, they create the complete jigsaw puzzle.

Purpose of Jig Saw Learning Activity

# 1 Disease, Health and Genetics

In the largest meta-analysis ever conducted, scientists have examined two decades of data from studies that examine the relationships between common gene mutations, also known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and different diseases and conditions. And the results show that the links between most human diseases and genetics are shaky at best.

“Simply put, DNA is not your destiny, and SNPs are duds for disease prediction,” said David Wishart, professor in the University of Alberta’s Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Computing Science and co-author on the study. “The vast majority of diseases, including many cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, have a genetic contribution of 5 to 10 per cent at best.”

The study also highlights some notable exceptions, including Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and macular degeneration, which have a genetic contribution of approximately 40 to 50 per cent.

“Despite these rare exceptions, it is becoming increasingly clear that the risks for getting most diseases arise from your metabolism, your environment, your lifestyle, or your exposure to various kinds of nutrients, chemicals, bacteria, or viruses,” explained Wishart.

Wishart and his research collaborators suggest that measuring metabolites, chemicals, proteins, or the microbiome provides a much more accurate measure of human disease risk and are also more accurate for diagnosis. The findings fly in the face of many modern gene testing businesses models, which suggest that gene testing can accurately predict someone’s risk for disease.

“The bottom line is that if you want to have an accurate measure of your health, your propensity for disease or what you can do about it, it’s better to measure your metabolites, your microbes or your proteins — not your genes,” added Wishart. “This research also highlights the need to understand our environment and the safety or quality of our food, air, and water.”

sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/IS DNA destiny

#3 Are Wellbeing and Happiness Genetic? 

Some people seem to be born with a happier, carefree disposition than others, and research indicates that — yes — some of your sense of well-being may be in your genes. But only partly.

Your genes make up an estimated 40% of your ability to be happy, says psychotherapist Susan Zinn of Susan Zinn Therapy.

But that doesn’t mean that if you weren’t born with certain genes, you’re destined to be unhappy.

Zinn says that “it’s completely possible to rewire our brains for happiness,” because the other 60% of happiness comes down to lifestyle and other environmental factors.

Learn more about how your genetic makeup contributes to your life satisfaction and how you can increase feelings of happiness and well-being regardless of your genetic sequence.

What is happiness?

Happiness is typically determined by three main components, according to Zinn:

• Life satisfaction. This is usually linked to positive emotions based on past, present, and projected future experiences. Specifically, your past can influence future life satisfaction by how you frame the future in your mind. For instance, if you suffered from trauma in the past, then you may think your future will not be satisfying because you envision worst-case scenarios.
• Feeling engaged with what you do every day. Be it at work, in relationships, or in your leisure time, it’s important to feel invested in the people you spend time with, your career, or hobbies. According to a 2021 study, having more optimism and happiness can boost your performance at work.
• Having meaning and purpose in life. This may be described as feeling that what you do in life is important, that you have goals or aspirations, or perhaps what you do helps others.

Research indicates that we can inherit many traits including optimism, self-esteem, and happiness. So by that logic, yes, there are genes that may predispose you to a happier disposition.

For example, a 2011 study found promising evidence that people with a certain form of the gene called 5-HTTLPR reported higher life satisfaction.

And a landmark 2016 study that formally linked happiness to genetics involved the DNA of nearly 300,000 people. The researchers pinpointed three specific genetic variants associated with well-being. But they also found that these genetic variations weren’t the only factor. An interplay of genetics and environment also contributed to happiness.

How to be happy 

“You have a choice,” Zinn says. “It’s no different than deciding what to wear or what food to order. When it comes to happiness, there’s a lot we can do about it.”

Despite your genetic makeup, there are ways you can learn to be happier, even in difficult times. Other traits, such as resilience, can be cultivated over time.

Here are eight practical ways to choose happiness:

1. Let go of perfectionism. One way to achieve a happier state is to let go of a quest for perfectionism that focuses only on the end goal of success, Zinn says. Linking happiness with perfectionism and success is common in American culture, but it leads you to concentrate on the summit of what you want to achieve rather than the journey of what happens along the way.
2. Volunteer. Doing something for others takes the focus off of yourself and can make you feel good, according to 2020 research. Even if you can’t make a regular commitment to volunteer, think of small things you can do to help others, such as picking up groceries for someone not able to get them on their own.
3. Exercise. Physical activity isn’t just helpful for your body — it’s also great for your mind, Zinn says. Movement helps to release the feel-good chemical dopamine. Current federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week, which breaks down to 30 minutes, five days a week.
4. Nutrition. A healthy diet can have a huge effect on your self-confidence, health, and subsequent happiness. If you’re wondering what type of foods to eat, a 2012 study found a plant-based diet can improve your mood. Moreover, the DASH diet and Mediterranean diet come highly recommended by nutritionists.
5. Get out in nature. Nature helps you to feel humbled by what’s around you, reduces stress, and helps you feel more connected to the world, which can lead to higher life satisfaction, Zinn says.
6. Show gratitude and practice kindness. One way to do this, according to Zinn: Keep a kindness jar with a notepad and pen nearby. Everyone at home can write down kind acts they have done in a given week or that others have done for them. At the end of the week, you can choose what to do with the items in the jar, such as reading them aloud.
7. Laugh. People who can find humor in even the darkest or craziest of circumstances are often able to boost their happiness.
8. Tune in to meaning and spirituality. Mindfulness meditation, religion, believing in a higher power, or a connection to a higher consciousness may help give a greater feeling of purpose in life.   https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/is-happiness-genetic