Genetic Memory?

Question

Do you think that a person has a genetic memory of climate and conditions from their earliest ancesstors? Is a person able to with stand certain climatic conditions such as cold and heat based upon a genetic memory? My paternal family originated in the northern Kiel Mts of Scandinavia between Norway and Sweden. I can not stand hot days, I have never had a heat stroke or anything like that but I am very uncomfortable and always have been. On the other hand when the outside temp is 25 or 30 degrees I only wear a short sleeve sweat shirt. I do not own and have never owned a heavy coat. Today it was 97 degrees with high humidity and I stayed out in working but I didn't like it. When it's cold I like it and most people stay inside. What do you think? Is my thermostat messed up or what?

Answer 1

Yes and no !. The clever thing about humans is our ability to alter our temperature by the clothes we wear, blankets etc and by customs such as siestas at the hottest times of the day. On the otherhand your ancesters would have selected for gene mutations that whiten their skin to maximise vitamin synthesis in the poor sunlight of scandinavia. But say you developed an overactive thyroid- commonly you'd develop intolerance to heat and distress caused by heat( nothing to do with ancestry- medical condition).

Most of my friends from hot countries actually hate the heat too.

Answer 2

well, although memory itslef is not deposited in gens or chromosones, it is possible for traces of it to pass on, and if your ancestors adapted their body (including their cells and chromosones) for climate, those mutated chromosones would be in you