OK, So The Environment Plays The Song; But Maybe We Can Tweak It

Returning to the piano metaphor, these findings indicate that while we cannot change our genes, we may be able to tweak the song by affecting epigenetics. In 2016, scientists showed that it was possible to reprogram an ant’s behaviour—turning soldiers into foragers—by administering a drug that altered epigenetic activity in the brain. In humans, drugs with antimanic and antidepressive activities can modulate epigenetic processes, which could underlie their therapeutic effect.