Epigenetic Summary

As I researched Temple University School of Medicine, I discovered a medical school with a mission statement and vision that aligns with my personal interests and goals. During my clerkships, I will have the opportunity to learn from distinguished physicians in renowned hospitals around Temple University. I can be assured that I will discover a field of medicine that is most compatible to my interests and ambitions. Currently, my aspirations lie within pediatrics. Early clinical opportunities to work one-on-one with primary care physicians in the Doctoring course will help confirm that pediatrics is the ideal fit for me, while also training me to be a leader in the field. Regardless of which medical field I pursue, the Integrated Curriculum

Just as the institution is eager to continue embracing the ever-changing world of healthcare and medicine, I too embody this same distinguishing characteristic. Throughout my undergraduate experiences I have learned in order to be a steward and servant of the medical profession one must exercise teamwork, service, empathy, accountability, and optimism; all of which coincide with the tenets that are declared by the Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine culture. Attending this medical school would be one of the greatest rewards for my motivation and persistence. I know for certain there would be no greater experience than to be a part of the Meharry Medical College

Epigenetics is the future of science. It has evolved from being a science that very few believed in, to one that will shape medicine as it is known. As the Human Genome Project began, the goal was to determine which genes controlled what phenotypes in a human. After all the genes were identified and mapped, the expression of the genes that the scientists had just discovered was also beginning to be analyzed (EPIGENETICS). Although every gene had been identified and associated with a function, there were genes that if not expressed or not turned on, would create a different scenario. That is, the idea that the genotype of an individual would determine their phenotype was reinforced. Epigenetics however is the study of the switching on or off of the genes responsible for a particular action (Feinberg). For example, all of the organs of a single person have the exact same DNA as the others, yet a lung looks drastically different from a kidney. This is due to the expression of the genes responsible for creating a specific organ. If scientists are able to control the switching on and off of these genes, then many extraordinary possibilities exist.

The Stritch school of medicine is an institution that allows the intersection of research, compassionate care to all members of the community and academic excellence while keeping the patient first. For this reason, I am certain that being a part of this program will challenge me to widen my horizons and increase my exposure to different perspectives. Furthermore, the emphasis on serving others, especially those from the underserved population aligns with my future aspirations as a physician. The ASPIRE program has invaluable resources for me to broaden my depth of knowledge about health care disparities, team dynamics in medicine, and the significance of healthcare professionals that are willing to implement change.The combination of academic

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences offers me a variety of opportunities and programs that I am unable to find anywhere else. First, the Early Selection Program allows me to have flexibility in my journey as a medical professional. Each student’s schedule in the program is tailored to a specific specialty and applicable track. In the program, I would get to explore not only the foundational medical courses, but also the courses that incorporate both clinical practice and community interaction early on. I would get to learn hands-on through the collaboration of my peers and work in an environment that looks at health through a cultural and evolving lens. From here, I will be able to get a solid impression of the care, communication, and approaches I want to implement as a future health care provider.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine has become a top choice medical school for myself due to their focuses on leadership in medicine, community mentoring and outreach, and service based learning. Centered within the urban and evolving city of Detroit, the Wayne State University School of Medicine affords its students the chance to receive their education in, and provide service within, a very rich and diverse patient population. Being immersed within, experiencing, and understanding the diversities of others allows for students and professionals alike to find their identities, meanings, and purposes through connections with people in all walks of life. In this way, Wayne State has the ability to offer its medical students an unparalleled

All of the University of Tennessee physicians, residents, and students I have interacted with have welcomed me and quickly taken me under their wing. Their desire to teach, mentor, and serve has astonished me and made certain my desire to be a part of such an admirable academic group. With quality guidance and mentorship from the University of Tennessee, I am certain that I will be ready to undertake any challenge my medical career throws at

The most compelling piece of information that I read from the article "Epigenetics: Its What Turns You On...and Off" (Schardt, 2013) is how children born from the same mother, before gastric bypass surgery and after the surgery, had different patterns of epigenetic marks than their siblings. It would not have crossed my mind that being overweight would actually have an affect on your genes, that could be passed down to your offspring. Researchers have also reported that the gene IGF2 was more turned on in those born to obese fathers, which might increase the risk of becoming overweight in adulthood (Schardt, 2013). So they chances that a child becomes overweight is on both parents and not just one.

According to Rachael Rettner, Epigenetics is defined as, “external modifications to DNA that turn genes on or off. These modifications to DNA do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells read genes.” (Rettner 2013) Epigenetics is thought to possibly have a role in the development of some cancers. Since epigenetics modifies DNA, they can hide a growth, so to speak, or it can play a role in repairing the DNA’s damage. (Rettner 2013) If the changes are in the person’s sperm or egg cells, there is a possibility of that person’s children, or they’re children’s children, getting the modified DNA. (Rettner 2013) In a process called reprogramming, when the sperm and egg combine it allows the fetus to make its own epigenetic changes,

Thesis: Individuals that have experienced traumatic events or are put into high stress environments are prone to having their epigenetics modified which can be passed down to offspring. The altered genes can induce people to becoming much more vulnerable to depression and anxiety as a result. While there isn't a way to “cure” intergenerational trauma there are ways to cope with it.

Researchers first thought the genes you receive from your parents are set in stone since they are made of a genetic code set in our DNA sequence;however, they are discovering that there is a second layer of structure that combines with DNA to decide whether or not a gene is active or not, called the epigenome. The epigenome consists of the DNA, histones, a protein DNA is wrapped around, and chemical tags. The epigenome alters the genetic code by directing signals. The signals come from the environment, which are reacted upon by epigenetic tags to turn a gene either on or off without affecting the DNA sequence. Certain things from our environment that send signals to epigenetic tags to change our genes in the epigenome includes the following:

Epigenetics can be defined as a way of turning on and off certain genes in your body, which as evidence has shown, we have a lot more control of than we thought. The video on epigenetics was so great, I did not have a clear idea of what epigenetics was. Watching the video really enlightens how far we have come in research of the human body. I find the advancements that have been made using epigenetics with cancer to be one of the best sections of the thirteen minute video. Just knowing the fact that half of the patients that complied with the research whom had cancer to begin with are now in remission is a great accomplishment. I also found the fact that we have more control over our epigenes, we are to modify our own genes by just following

During the Fall semester 2014, I came back to ANC for a fresh start after being a failed dropout in 1997. The following semester of 2015 I was enrolled in four classes and working a part-time job to help pay for them. About three weeks into that semester is when I endured a back injury that led to an MRI scan, this led to the discovery of an anomaly, which required the immediate attention of a specialist neurosurgeon. It was later determined to have been what they call a Giant Cell Tumor that caused all the trouble, and it was

One of the hallmark alterations during the carcinogenic process is a profound deregulation the intracellular metabolism and exposure to carcinogenic agents greatly contributes to this deregulation. The proper functioning of many chromatin-modifying enzymes, in particular, and epigenetic processes, in general, depends greatly on cofactors or cosubstrates generated by cellular metabolism. This tightly links a number of intracellular metabolic and epigenome and, therefore, altered intracellular metabolism, especially tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle; Krebs cycle), one carbon, lipid, and iron metabolic pathways, induced by carcinogen exposure can cause a variety of epigenetic abnormalities

Veluchamy et al., (2016), found DNA and histone associations in Eukaryotes plays role in chromatin compaction and in shaping three dimensional topology of the genome. He and his colleagues did an experiment on the role of LHP1 in H3K27me3. PcG which is mentioned as one of the earliest epigenetic regulatory mechanism remodel chromatin such that epigenetic silencing of genes happen. The PcG identified the repression of HOX genes in Drosophila melanogaster. The HOX genes are group of related genes which are in contention of controlling body plan like the embryo. Earlier there are claims on the complex nature of PRc1 and PRC2. Arabidopsis has three PRC2 genes based on the presence of the three animal suppressors of zeste 12 (SU (Z) 12) homologous