Module: Molecular micriobiology and epigenetics Dr. Tina Kyndt 19/04/2015 Dries Godderis Faculteit Bio-Ingenieurswetenschappen UGent – Coupure Links 653 – 9000 Gent Paper epigenetics A comparison of DNA-methylation between infants delivered vaginally and by caesarian section 1 Introduction This paper, written for the course ‘Molecular microbiology and epigenetics’ is a summary of two existing articles: ‘Epigenetic modulation at birth - altered DNA-methylation in white blood cells after Caesarean section’ (Schlinzing et al., 2009) and ‘Caesarean delivery and hematopoietic stem cells epigenetics in the newborn infant: implications for future health?’ (Almgren et al., 2014). The objective is to review some possible implications on the health …show more content…
This heightened risk is still unclear, although gut colonization, microbiome exposure, a lack of stress and immune-activating effects of labour, and epigenetic changes have been looked upon as the main cause (Almgren et al., 2014; Cho et al., 2013). Because of the relationship between these diseases and their immunological background, various epigenetic and non-epigenetic studies are being performed. The first article studied global DNAmethylation in leukocytes (Schlinzig et al., 2009) while the latter focused on CD34+ hematopoetic stem cells (Almgren et al., 2014) of newly born infants. Research setup In the first white blood cell study (Schlinzig et al., 2009), the blood of 37 healthy singleton babies was sampled. Exclusion criteria such as multiple pregnancies, smoking, chromosomal disorders or diabetes were sufficiently provided. This blood was collected through the umbilical cord directly after delivery. The DNA of the leukocytes was extracted through the use of specific kits. Afterwards, the DNA was quantified and a luminometric methylation assay was performed. This assay is based upon the digestion of genomic DNA with methylation sensitive and insensitive restriction enzymes, followed by a quantification of the resulting number of sites cut, by making use of a luminometric polymerase extension platform. 200-500ng DNA was cleaved with HpaII + EcoRI restriction enzymes in a
The following results helped obtain the haplogroup that in which the sequence of mtDNA would identify. The PCR reaction worked, and this can be determined by looking at the agarose gel in figure 1. If the PCR reaction was successful, than a band should appear around 550bp. Individual AC displays a band around 550bp, this means the PCR reaction was successful. The band for individual AC, depicts a low concentration of product, because the band faint. After the purification process the concentration, A260/280 ratio, and A260/A230 ratio were determined by using the nanodrop. The concentration of mtDNA in the product was 60.9 ng/uL. The ratio for A260/280 was 1.79 and the ratio for A260/230 was 0.77. The A260 and 280 are a spectrometer measurement that measure absorbance at wavelengths of
However, analysis of intact fetal cells for detection of aneuploidies and genetic disease shifted away from this when in 1997, Lo et al. first reported the presence of fetal DNA circulating in maternal blood. Free fetal DNA (ffDNA) along with RNA (ffRNA) have opened the door to a multitude of downstream analytical techniques of the fetal genome and transcriptome. Because ffDNA can be isolated through noninvasive methods--all one requires is a sample of maternal blood--clinician-scientists have focused on improving diagnostic methods with ffDNA. Currently, ffDNA is used in the noninvasive diagnosis of Rhesus blood group genotype, sex determination, fetal aneuploidies, and other genetic disorders (Bianchi,
researcher are more certain that it was X that affected Y (Stanley, Boswell, et al, 2009).
In this paper I will answer some questions about blood and related issues. Some of the questions I will answer are: what is the significance of a lower than normal haematocrit? what is erythropoiesis?why would the level of leukocytes be higher in an individual who has been infected with a parasitic disease. In regions where malaria is endemic, some people build up immune resistance to the malaria pathogen. Which WBCs are responsible for the immune response against pathogens? How do they function?
Methyl-seq was performed on genomic DNA isolated from lymphoblasts, providing DNA methylation patterns of the entire genome for each individual. Several loci displayed hypermethylation in both BPD patients compared to their unaffected siblings. When the lymphoblast cells were treated with a therapeutic dose of lithium (1mM), results showed hypomethylation at several loci. Among these, one locus had been hypermethylated in the BPD cells. This differentially methylated locus was where the novel lncRNA, LINC00486, was located. Sequencing data has indicated LINC00486 is found in human chromosome 2 and is flanked by genes TTC27 and LTBP1. A mouse homolog has yet to be discovered. Three distinct RNAs are predicted to be transcribed from the LINC00486 locus, each of different lengths and containing different exons.
Miller, Hess, and Orthmann (2014) concluded that, in addition to the
A related phrase described by Waddington to help elaborate the phenomenon of epigenetics, the ‘epigenetic landscape’ attempts to explain how identical genotypes could result in a wide variety of phenotypic variation through the process of development. This epigenetic landscape can be dynamic – capturing genetic, environmental, and cell lineage effects – and has been shown to be at least partly heritable. (Szyf, M. (2015) Nongenetic inheritance and transgenerational epigenetics. Trends Mol. Med. 21, 134–144). The epigenetic code is hypothesized to be a defining code in every eukaryotic cell consisting of the specific epigenetic modifications in each cell. While in one individual the genetic code in each cell is the same, the epigenetic code is tissue & cell
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In fact, epigenetics opens wide opportunities to enhance studies in the field of medicine, biology, zoology and other fields of science. In some directions, epigenetics can help to make a breakthrough in the development of some fields of science. This is why one should never narrow the scope and potential of epigenetics. The understanding of chemical reactions and genome activation and deactivation are extremely important for understanding of fundamental principles of the development of living beings and their functioning in the course of their
by sampling the amniotic fluid, which contains cells and chemicals which are fetal in origin.”(4) This
The PBS video called “Epigenetics” brought to light some very interesting views. Through rats scientist have been able to see the works of epigenetics and believe that the finding have led to the idea that the change in genetics has the same effect on humans. The most interesting part of the video was that younger pairs of twins have very similar genes, but the older pairs of twin have more epigenetic difference in their genes. This validates the idea that the epigenetic difference in old twins is caused by environmental factors such as lifestyle choices. The idea also alludes to the idea that our parents and grandparents healthy and epigenetics may affect my heath and my children’s health. This leads to the inclination that my child’s health
Despite what the light switch metaphor would have many people believe, individual DNA methylation sites are usually partially methylated. This means that there are multiple sequences from the same cell type or tissue preparation that must be run to estimate the percentage of methylated nucleotides. Another limitation of epigenetics is the cell and tissue specificity of DNA methylation. Epigenetic modifications are extremely variable and depend on cell type, differentiation state and hormonal and environmental conditions. Every individual neuron could have different patterns of DNA methylation or histone modification in their genome. Because of this, the value of determining a reference cell epigenome is only usable sometimes. Especially for neuron cells due to their inherent
White blood cells, or leukocytes (also spelled "leucocytes"; from the Greek word leuko- meaning "white"), are cells of the immune system involved in defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five[1] different and diverse types of leukocytes exist, but they are all produced and derived from a multipotent cell in the bone marrow known as a hematopoietic stem cell. They live for
The study of epigenetics began as broad research focused on combining genetics and developmental biology by well-respected scientists including Conrad H. Waddington and Ernst Hadorn during the mid-twentieth century. The term epigenetics, which was coined by Waddington in 1942, was derived from the Greek word “epigenesis” which originally described
The word “epigenetic” means “in addition to changes in genetic sequence.” The term has changed to include any process that alters gene activity without changing the DNA sequence, and leads to modifications that can be transmitted to daughter cells. The term epigenetics was first used in the early 1940s, when embryologist Conrad Waddington used it to describe the interactions between genes and their products, which give rise to an organism’s observable characteristics or phenotype.