Socioeconomic Status and Gene Expression

Just recently, Dr. Hackman had come in to talk to us about his research involving socioeconomic status (SES) during early childhood development and how it can predict stress response types in early adulthood. According to him, "lower SES is associated with higher levels of stress in addition to changes in the function of physiological stress response systems in children and adults" (70). Therefore, he finds that children who have a lower socioeconomic status will tend to have higher levels of stress later on in adulthood. He had also mentioned that "cognitive performance is modified by epigenetic mechanisms, indicating that experience has a strong influence on gene expression and resultant phenotypic cognitive traits" (69). According to the website, "What Is Epigenetics", epigenetic involves the heritable changes in gene expression due to outside forces, and according to Hackman, the epigenetic mechanisms in the case of socioeconomic status are changing gene expressions. In fact, in the New York Times article, "Changes in Social Status Seen in Gene Regulation in Monkeys" by Sindya Bhanoo, a study on monkeys shows how changes in social status can be seen in gene regulation.

The study was done by Dr. Tung, an evolutionary anthropologist, and found differences in the expressions of about a thousand genes in the white blood cells of macaques. According to Dr. Tung, "although all of the monkeys have the same set of genes in their white blood cells, not all of them turn on those genes to the same degree" (Bhanoo). The article then went on to state that the social ranking of a macaque can be predicted simply by looking at the genes, therefore further explaining how socioeconomic status has to do with gene expression. It had also stated that "if a macaque's social rank changed, her gene expression did as well" (Bhanoo), further showing the extent of the effects that social rank can have.

Tung went on to explain how the results from the research could possibly provide an insight into how to "manage stress caused by social status in humans" (Bhanoo), which also relates back to Hackman's research linking socioeconomic status in early childhood to stress response in adulthood. Hackman went on to say that by studying the SES within cognitive neuroscience, we would be able to "address societal problems" and "broaden our understanding of the human brain" (71). Perhaps we will be better able to understand gaps between socioeconomic statuses and the increased stress and gene modifications that come along with it, and therefore be able to decrease these detrimental modifications and stress caused by the lower socioeconomic status. 

Works Cited

Bhanoo, Sindya N. “Changes in Social Status Seen in Gene Regulation in Monkeys.” The New York Times. 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/changes-in-social-status-seen-in-monkeys-genes.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=steam&module=stream_unit&version=search&contentPlacement=14&pgtype=sectionfront>

“Epigenetics: Fundamentals.” What Is Epigenetics. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. <http://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/>

Hackman, Daniel, & Farah, Martha. “Socioeconomic status and the Developing Brain.” Cell Press. 65-73.

Picture: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/changes-in-social-status-seen-in-monkeys-genes.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=search&contentPlacement=14&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0