jveteran

I'm writing a book on Circadian Rhythm Disorders, specifically Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome DSPS. Part of the book deals with genetics which I understand poorly. My background is in Aeronautical Science. I'm just looking for someone to point me in the right direction, not explain this subject fully to me. I'm trying to understand a concept of genetics involving use or disuse. I'd rather not contaminate the actual question by telling you what problem I'm trying to solve. Hope that doesn't come across the wrong way. Instead let me give you a hypothetical example of what I'm talking about. Lets say that in my hypothetical model it is discovered that the human earlobe secretes a neuropeptide, or a hormone, or something that isn't CRITICAL for existence, but can subtly alter our metabolism or homeostasis. Then we discover a tribe in the Amazon that has been removing this earlobe in its members for many thousands of years. At some point could that tribe have altered its genetic makeup by removing this earlobe that they no longer will produce that chemical whether it is removed or not? Feel free to help me completely rephrase this question to make it more understandable. Thanks very much for any and all constructive criticism.

I'm doing research on Circadian Rythyms. I'm working on a theory that involves genetic manipulation. I don't know enough to ask the right question so please feel free to help me rephrase. Basically I'd like to know if you can affect genetic switches and turn them on and off over generations by, lets say, surgically altering the body. For example. Lets pretend that the earlobe produces testosterone, which of course it doesn't. But what if it did and lets say that a tribal group figured out that if they lopped off the earlobe members of the tribe exhibited different behavior. This might become a religious custom and over many generations I am interested in knowing if changes in the children, and the childrens children could become noticeable. Can you, by altering one system surgically, alter other systems, and genetic switches over generations. Is this possible? And what is that type of manipulation called so I can research that specifically. Hope this makes sense and please feel free to tell me if it doesn't. Thanks very much in advance. JV