Smoking Permanently Affects Genes: Long-Term Smoking May Impact Future Generations' Health

Smoking permanently affects genes, and long-term smoking may impact the health of future generations. According to the latest scientific research, smoking not only causes cancer in the individual, but may also increase the likelihood of hereditary diseases or cancer in descendants.

Smoking permanently affects genes, and long-term smoking may impact the health of future generations. According to the latest scientific research, smoking not only causes cancer in the individual, but may also increase the likelihood of hereditary diseases or cancer in descendants.

Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of 16,000 blood samples and found that smoking can cause irreversible changes in the methylation of certain genes. However, after quitting smoking, most of the affected genes recover on their own within five years, with limited impact. Still, when comparing smokers, former smokers, and people who have never smoked, researchers found that smoking-related DNA methylation sites are associated with more than 7,000 genes, accounting for about one-third of all known human genes.

Scientists said that once DNA methylation becomes irreversible and is not corrected during cell division, it can increase the risk of hereditary diseases or cancer, and may even pass those risks on to future generations.