Discussion Questions
In the story of Charlene and Nia, Dr. Harris doesn’t blame Charlene for her daughter’s failing health; instead, she tries to help them both. If you were in the doctor’s place, would you have felt the same compassion for Charlene?
List some possible answers to the question, “How is it that ACEs are handed down so reliably from generation to generation?” (p. 79).
Write a summary to what you learned in this chapter about “high-licker” and “low-licker” rats.
Explain epigenetics in your own words.
What hope do you see in the experiment in which the rat pups were switched at birth?
In your own words, explain what telomeres are and how they are affected by toxic stress.