Huberman Lab
Behaviors That Alter Your Genes to Improve Your Health & Performance | Dr. Melissa Ilardo
26 May 2025
My guest is Dr. Melissa Ilardo, Ph.D., professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Utah. We discuss the interplay between genes and behaviors, including how certain behaviors can improve resilience by changing gene and organ function, as well as natural selection events happening in humans today. We also discuss the immune system–related reasons people find the smells of potential mates attractive—or not. We explore how physical and psychological traits are passed from one generation to the next, and the specific behaviors that can influence gene expression to improve health and performance. Melissa explains her lab’s pioneering research on breath-hold training and how activation of the dive reflex through breath holding can significantly improve oxygen availability by changing spleen size and function. We also delve into the medical uses and ethics of gene editing to cure disease in both babies and adults. For those interested in genes and inheritance, human performance, immune system function, and natural selection, this episode illustrates the remarkable interplay between human nature and nurture. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Joovv: https://joovv.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Melissa Ilardo 00:02:35 Nature vs Nurture, Gene Expression, Eye Color 00:07:06 Sponsors: Joovv & Eight Sleep 00:10:24 Epigenetics, Trauma, Mutations; Hybrid Vigor, Mate Attraction 00:15:47 Globalization; Homo Sapiens, Mating & Evolution; Mutations 00:25:28 Sea Nomads, Bajau & Moken Groups; Free Diving, Dangers & Gasp Reflex 00:32:52 Cultural Traditions, Free Diving & Families; Fishing 00:35:36 Mammalian Dive Reflex, Oxygen, Spleen, Cold Water & Face; Exercise 00:42:43 Sponsors: AG1 & LMNT 00:46:00 Free Diving, Spleen, Thyroid Hormone, Performance Enhancement 00:52:00 Dive Reflex, Immune System; Swimming & Health; Coastal Regions & Genetics 00:55:17 Female Free Divers, Haenyeo, Cold Water, Age, Protein 01:03:20 Human Evolution & Diet, Lactase, Fat 01:05:07 Korean Female Free Divers & Adaptations, Cardiovascular, Pregnancy 01:10:13 Miscarriages & Genetic Selection; Bajau, External Appearance, Mate Selection 01:17:15 Sponsor: Function 01:19:03 Free Diving, Underwater Vision; Super-Performers & Genetics 01:25:01 Cognitive Performance, Autism, Creativity; Genetic Determinism & Mindset 01:36:30 Genetics & Ethics, CRISPR, Embryo Genetic Screening 01:44:36 Admixture, Genetics; Are Humans a Single Species? 01:49:39 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast, where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life.
Welcome to the Huberman Lab Podcast, where we discuss science and science-based tools for everyday life. I'm Andrew Huberman, and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is Dr. Melissa Alardo, professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Utah. Dr. Alardo is a world-renowned expert in human genetics and epigenetics.
I'm Andrew Huberman, and I'm a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. My guest today is Dr. Melissa Alardo, professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Utah. Dr. Alardo is a world-renowned expert in human genetics and epigenetics. She conducts pioneering studies on how our behavior and the environment can modify our gene expression.
She conducts pioneering studies on how our behavior and the environment can modify our gene expression. Today marks the first time on the Huberman Lab Podcast that we really explore human genetics, epigenetics, and how behavior shapes gene expression across generations.
Today marks the first time on the Huberman Lab Podcast that we really explore human genetics, epigenetics, and how behavior shapes gene expression across generations. We talk about the inheritance of physical traits like eye color, and we dive deep into fascinating mechanisms such as the mammalian dive reflex,
We talk about the inheritance of physical traits like eye color, and we dive deep into fascinating mechanisms such as the mammalian dive reflex, a physiological reaction to breath holding in cold water that as Dr. Ilardo explains, can dramatically alter the physiology of your spleen to allow significant increases in red blood cell count and oxygen availability to your brain and body.
a physiological reaction to breath holding in cold water that as Dr. Ilardo explains, can dramatically alter the physiology of your spleen to allow significant increases in red blood cell count and oxygen availability to your brain and body. And by the way, the mammalian dive reflex can be activated outside of free diving, and you can even do it at home.
And by the way, the mammalian dive reflex can be activated outside of free diving, and you can even do it at home. We also explore how mate preference and selection in humans relates to the immune system. That is, if you were given a choice of many, many different mates, as most people are, We also explore how mate preference and selection in humans relates to the immune system.
That is, if you were given a choice of many, many different mates, as most people are, The mate you would select is the mate who has the immune system composition that is most different from yours.
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