Is it possible the sun cycles affect gene expression?

[Autumnleaf]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

 

[Chesterton]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

Then we should worship the sun, or the Being which created the sun.

 

[Doveaman]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

Solar radiation is electromagnetic radiation which can generate electric fields on earth which can affect gene expression.

 

[Chesterton]

Yes.

YouTube - In the Sun - Blondie

 

[Split Rock]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

Assuming such fluctuations are perceived by receptors, then yes it could affect gene expression.

 

[Michael]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/plots/electron/20100729_electron.gif

I agree with everyone else. IMO the sun's solar cycles probably do create "ups and downs" in terms of genetic influences over time. The sun's solar cycle peaks again in 2011-2012 and already we're seeing some rather "unusual" solar wind activity. Goes has been recording a significant uptick in electron flow for the past few days.

The higher energy wavelengths from the sun tend to peak with it's solar maximum and undoubtedly that energy increase produces some genetic changes.

 

[ArnautDaniel]

What if solar radiation, or lack of it, affects which genes are expressed and how?

Then we'd expect to see 11 year cycles in living species.

The problem would be that the environment is known to be heavily driven by the solar cycle, so it'd be hard to pick out solar effects from environmental effects caused by solar effects.

 

[Michael]

Then we'd expect to see 11 year cycles in living species.

Well, except it s a wee more complicated since solar storms can occur at "off peak" times too.
NASA - Tuesday/Wednesday Solar Punch

That particular "hit" took place three years after the peak. Solar radiation "might" result in cyclical types of genetic changes, but then these changes might be more related to specific solar storms rather be directly related to the peak of the solar cycle. It's hard to say.

The problem would be that the environment is known to be heavily driven by the solar cycle, so it'd be hard to pick out solar effects from environmental effects caused by solar effects.

Indeed. It's a tricky proposition to be sure, but I would in fact expect the sun to influence the genetics from time to time and in fact all the time, sometimes more than others.