Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the factors that influence new genetic changes in children, finding that genetic ancestry and parental lifestyle choices, such as smoking, play a significant role. A study analyzing 10,000 parent-child trios found that different ancestry groups have varying rates of new genetic mutations, with African populations showing a higher rate than others. Additionally, parents who smoke were found to increase their child’s mutation count by around 2%. The study sheds light on the complex factors that affect new genetic variation in humans and may inform future research on population genetics and rare disorders.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-genetic-ancestry-parental-linked-children.html