This research fundamentally reframes our understanding of memory. The practical implications for medicine are huge. Think about wound healing, immune responses (the article mentions this), or even how tissues age. If cells "remember" past injuries, stresses, or infections on a molecular level, it could open up entirely new therapeutic pathways for regenerative medicine or treating chronic conditions.
It also makes you wonder about the boundary of cognition. If your skin cells hold memories of sun exposure, are they, in a very small way, part of your cognitive system? It's a fascinating and slightly unsettling thought.
It also makes you wonder about the boundary of cognition. If your skin cells hold memories of sun exposure, are they, in a very small way, part of your cognitive system? It's a fascinating and slightly unsettling thought.