We carry family around in our DNA everywhere we go. Folx who we maybe never met in person can nonetheless have arms that reach into and around our lives through stories, through family culture, and through our genetic expression. In addition to genetic influences, epigenetic influences from behaviors, from beliefs, and from the DNA of adoptive parents and other guardians can also have a big impact on the expression of our own DNA, particularly when we are young and very young. In fact, because science has now shown that our DNA is impressionable, we perhaps also need to widen our definition of blood family. What is one genetic or epigenetic influence or expression you perceive about yourself that you associate with family?
[image description: A heart with a double helix running across its forehead looks down upon itself and beholds within its own body six more hearts each with a double helix running across each one. Text reads: "This is a family."]