Epigenetic Changes In Human Life

Before conducting research and watching numerous informational videos on epigenetics, I would have never believed that when my grandmother was my age, she made dietary decisions that have affected me. Technically speaking, epigenetics simply means above genetics. In other words, epigenetics is the traits that you and I inherit, but do not necessarily necessitate the sequence of genes. I took me a while to actually grasp the concept until I thought of it from a musical perspective. Imagine our DNA helix strands as a musical score. There are different music notes as there are genes. If someone were to play Beethoven’s Symphony Number 5 correctly, it would sound the same every time. Basically, if one note is changed, the whole musical piece

What is epigenetics? Epigenetics to me is the alteration of our genome that we are able to change in not only ourselves, but in our children and future generations as well all based on lifestyle habits we live today. After first watching the PBS video on epigenetics, I was astonished at how our ways of life have such a profound effect upon not only our genes but our future generations of children as well. In the video research was conducted on over forty identical twins ages ranging from three to seventy-four, this was to compare the lifestyle habits such as smoking, exercise, and different diets have on an individual. I found it fascinating that when there was comparing the genomes of the elderly Spanish twins compared to the three-year-olds;

What is epigenetics and where do they come from? Epigenetics precisely means “above or “on top of” genetics. This refers to outside changes to DNA that turns genes “on” or “off.” These alterations do not change the DNA sequence, but instead they modify how cells “read” genes. One example is DNA methylation. Rachael Rettner states that “this is an accumulation of a methyl group, or a chemical cap, to part of the DNA molecule that prevents certain genes from being expressed” (Rettner). Another example of epigenetics is histone modification. These are proteins that our DNA wrap their self around. If our bodies did not contain histones then our DNA would be too large to fits inside our cells.

What is Epigenetics? It is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence. Epigenetics is the change in phenotype without a change in genotype, which in turn affects how cells read genes. Its change can be influenced by several factors including age, the environment or lifestyle, and disease state. Epigenetic can also have damaging affects that can result in diseases like cancer. The results show that changes will occur to the function and/or regulation of these molecules, without altering their primary sequences. Epigenetics modifications are stable and passed on to future generations and they are dynamic and change in response to environmental stimuli.

To me epigenetics is the how behind each and every person’s personality. We always look for answers to questions, that are right now to incomprehensible to us but still trying to quantify them, and epigenetics is the latest answer. First we were looking at the gnome to try and answer medical questions of who and why certain people get diseases, now with that not giving us the results we want we are digging deeper into the bodies makeup trying to uncover its secrets.

ONE of biology’s hottest topics is epigenetics. The term itself covers a multitude of sins. Strictly speaking, it refers to the regulation of gene expression by the chemical modification of DNA, or of the histone proteins in which DNA is usually wrapped. This modification is either the addition of methyl groups (a carbon atom and three hydrogens) to the DNA or of acetyl groups (two carbons, three hydrogens and an oxygen) to the histones. Methylation switches genes off. Acetylation switches them on. Since, in a multicellular organism, different cells need different genes to be active, such regulation is vital.

Epigenetics is the study of change in inherited genes without changing ones DNA as well as modifying genes that are transferred. Various factors such as aging, what we eat, lifestyles, exercising or even smoking can influence the change in epigenetics which is normal but can sometimes enhance diseases, behavior disorders and many other disorders that have been transferred either through pregnancy or carried on from previous generation into our DNA. These disorders can be shown at different stages in life or even carried on to the next generation. Studies have shown that during pregnancy the environment and what was being consumed during the time are the most influential factors that increase the chances of diseases and behavior disorders that

The penchant for analytical thinking and the scientific system was prevalent in my upbringing, a by-product of being born to two scientists. Therefore, when I began working on epigenetic research on Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) at Saint Louis University, I felt comfortable around the slow, systematic approach studded with jargon heavy language. I was excited to experience molecular biology, to work in the same kind of labs I’d visited as a child. When I applied to the job, FSHD was words linked to the epigenetic status of the D4Z4 sequence. In other words an abstract concept. That was the extent of my understanding until I met a 13 year old FSHD patient. If epigenetic changes are the result of environmental factors or

Our bodies are full of DNA that contains the instructions needed for us to develop, survive and reproduce. Our DNA is wrapped around proteins called histones, and both DNA and histones are covered in chemical tags. This is called the epigenome. The epigenome shapes the structure of the genome and tells it what to do, where they do it, and when to do it. Our DNA is fixed for life, but the genome can change. Epigenetic tags react to the outside word and can change with things such as diet and stress. The epigenome will adjust specific genes in response to our environment. It will tightly wrap around inactive genes, making them unreadable. It also relaxes the active genes, making them accessible. (1)

Studies have shown that our ancestors experience’s may leave a mark on our genes. Geneticists were surprised to find that epigenetic change could be passed down from parent to child. A study from Randy Jirtle of Duke University showed that when female mice are fed a diet rich in methyl groups, the fur pigment of subsequent offspring is permanently altered without changing the DNA. Madrid, Szyf and Meaney considered a hypothesis: “If diet and chemicals can cause epigenetic changes, could certain experiences — child neglect, drug abuse or other severe stresses — also set off epigenetic changes to the DNA inside the neurons of a person’s brain?” This study states that the biology of DNA will stay the same how ever psychological and behavioral tendencies are inherited.

Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modifying the genes expression rather than alternating the genetic code itself, in other words turning specific genes on or off. Epigenetics has many effects on health and development, like the susceptibility to develop cancer cells or a better chance at becoming fat or thin. Many scientist have accepted the idea that epigenetics is inherited, but Karin Micheles, a fellow at Radcliffe institute, does not think epigenetics is totally heredity. Micheles explains that during development, epigenetic markers control the differentiation that makes a muscle cell different from a kidney cell through activated genes and then maintains that program from one generation of cell to the next, but

Epigenetics studies the biological information that can be inherited in addition to the DNA, through biochemical changes such as methylation and histone modifications that can affect gene expression and lead to a particular phenotype [9]. Epigenetic plasticity can be influenced by internal and external factors, such as the in utero environment of early development [9]. The intrauterine environment can have short and long term effects on the health and future disease state of offspring. To look into the effects of the intrauterine environment, several factors need to be taken into account. This discussion will include the effects of maternal environmental conditions on the health of offspring, including type 1 and 2 diabetes,

Although almost everything in the universe can be explained by science, there are a few things that go against scientific reasoning, one of these things is epigenetic inheritance. It was previously thought an offspring only received the DNA that its parents were born with, and the epigenetic tags ( DNA that has been changed due to the parents’ experiences in life) from its parents were left out of its genetic makeup. Epigenetic inheritance is the theory that epigenetic tags from the parents are passed down to the offspring, contributing to the genetic makeup. The fascinating part about epigenetic inheritance is that it is potentially the key to understanding evolution and preventing various congenital diseases.

You can probably compare the distinction between genetics and epigenetics to the difference between writing a book and reading. Once the book is written, the text (the genes or information stored as DNA) will be the same in all the copies distributed to the public. However, every player of a given book will have a slightly different interpretation of history, which arouse in him feelings and personal projections through the chapters. In a very similar manner, epigenetics would allow several readings of a fixed matrix (the book or genetic code), giving rise to various interpretations, depending on the conditions in which we question this matrice.

Phenotypes depend on the genes that code for them, but the expression of genes can depend on multiple factors including the environment. Epigenetics is a field in science that focuses on how the environmental plays a role in in the development of certain phenotypes by affecting gene expression. Epigenetics influences all species and works through DNA methylation and can be influenced by multiple external factor such as growth hormones.