Genes are overrated: Transcription factors - Illuminati of genetics

Dear Human Being,

Ah, the beloved genes - our scripts written by mother nature. They are responsible for who we are, what we do and even what we eat. Our every flaw, every little annoying trait can be justified by the genes. "It is just who I am genetically," we say without a cloud of doubt. Only 66 years into the discovery of the genetic code and we have already managed to overhype it. 

What if I told you, dear human being, that genes are overrated? Indeed, there is an equally important player lurking in the shadows of molecular biology textbooks - transcription factor.

Our DNA is not simply read by the cells like a book. Instead, it is rewritten into smaller pieces - RNA as if by wise scripters of Alexandria. In more scientific terms, it is "transcribed". This process of transcription is most heavily guarded, even more than Buckingham Palace. These guards, however, don't wear gigantic hats and pose with tourists. Instead, they bind and unbind DNA, letting certain genes be active and blocking the others. In other words, you might have inherited your mother's cute nose, but if your transcription factors decide otherwise, your nose is doomed.

These Illuminaties of genetics do not seek fame. Having the ability to lead to diseases, halt embryo development, and kill the organism altogether, transcription factors are content with their role. Nowadays, our little controllers attract a lot of attention from the scientific community, since they can be used to artificially control the genome.

But why should you, human being, care about these transcription factors? The answer lies in the wide field of Epigenetics - a study of genetic control systems (yes, transcription factors are not the only controllers out there). Naturally, thanscription factors can change from time to time due to the range of reasons, a very peculiar one of which is environmental influence.

Humans are not isolated from the world, rocking its boat every step of the way. Little did we know that the outside world influences us in an equally if not more severe manner - on a genetic level, even if you are a hardcore introvert like myself.

We, as products of evolution, are scripted. But our scripts of DNA are not set in stone. Despite the common belief that people don't change, they very much do biologically. As environment changes, different sets of genes become expressed, bringing us closer to being a different person. But there is even better news. If the environment can influence our genes, can we influence our own genes?

How would you change yourself if you knew for sure that you could?

The world around us rearranges itself so rapidly we barely manage to look it in the eyes. Will we change on a primal level as the world alters its face? 

P.S. Summary: Controlling the control of the control of the thing that makes us able to control. Now say that ten times faster