Architecture of the self: Gene expression, environment, and adaptation

In the final installment of our special series, Architecture of the Self, Kurt and Mary dive into the future of mental health through the lens of epigenetics. Featuring Dr. Tesfaye Mersha, epigenetics expert, Endowed Chair, and Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and weaving in insights from earlier guests in the series, this episode explores how genetics, environment, and life experiences shape who we become, and how trauma and healing can leave lasting marks at the genetic level. Discover why adaptation, not destiny, is at the heart of mental health and why new science offers hope for more personalized and effective treatments.

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Learn more about the Mersha Lab: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/a/asthma/labs/mersha

Be sure to listen to the other episodes in this series: Architecture of the Self: Diagnosis, Architecture of the Self: Memory, Dissociation, and Traumatic Experiences, and Architecture of the Self: Unlocking Neuroplasticity