Why in News:

• A Bengaluru-based group of researchers has discovered a link between stress during early life and problematic, externalising behaviour in the DNA of children of alcoholic parents.

Biology and Adversity:

• Early adversity is known to have several biological effects. One of this is DNA methylation
  — a process by which chemical changes occur to the DNA molecule. It also affects the functioning of what is called the hypothalamus-pituitary axis.
• The hypothalamus-pituitary axis is a major neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress, regulates digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sexuality and energy storage and expenditure.
• In normal individuals, it is expected that the level of cortisol spikes during stress.

Collated data:

• The study is unique in that it carries out a detailed assessment of HPA axis function by cortisol estimation during stress and also estimates chemical effects due to early adversity at the DNA level.
• The study concludes that children of alcoholics
  might have a compromised HPA axis and epigenetic changes at the DNA level possibly resulting in increased externalising behaviour.