Epigenetic Transcriptional Memory

Some researchers hypothesize that the hippocampus is involved in some types of memory processes but not others. This particular study measured brain activity using fMRI during two types of memory tasks: remember (episodic memory) and know (familiarity). A memory was considered “episodic” if the person could recall the moment it was learned and “familiar” if they felt they recognized the word but could not retrieve the specidic moment it was learned. The a priori (pre-selected) region of interest( ROI) in the hippocampus

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

The park was open the next day and we decided to go again, since we had so much fun yesterday. The only thing I saw as we drove to park the car was the colorful front entrance. I thought about it and how it can relate to the nuclear membrane for the cell. The nuclear membrane controls what goes in and out of the nucleus, and the front entrance controls who goes in and out of the

All cells in the body contain the same DNA sequence. Although all cells contain an identical DNA sequence, they all have different cell structures and functions. Each structure and function of the cell differs because the cell has specific use for or will only express certain genes. Genes in DNA are expressed when they are read and transcribed into RNA which then gets translated into proteins by ribosome structures. Proteins are used to determine a cells characteristics and functions. Inside of each cell the DNA as well as histones can be tagged by tiny chemicals that modify gene expression. These chemical tags have the responsibility that causes genes to be turned on or turned off. This causes genes to be expressed or silenced. The epigenome is a wrapped up package of DNA.

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 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,

Political Propaganda Propaganda is used everywhere from political ads to a McDonald’s hamburger commercial. They often use different types of propaganda such as bandwagon, testimonial, transfer, glittering generalities and name-calling. Presidents and leaders use propaganda in campaigns, advertisements, and many more. You may have seen ads on television for Obama or Donald Trump because they were trying to get you to vote for them, but some of the things they say may not be true. After reading the satirical fairy tale, Animal Farm by George Orwell, animals like Napoleon and Squealer use propaganda to gain or preserve their power, just like leaders and presidents in the human world, but sometimes leaders often use propaganda poorly for their

Flu season is once again upon us, and the CDC recommends that everyone six months or older receive a flu vaccine, with it being even more important for those who have a high risk for complications, like the elderly, children under five, and pregnant women.

Second amendment rights are a controversial subject, but in her article, “A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun,” Linda M. Hasselstrom explains why those rights are important to her. Hasselstrom uses logos, pathos, and ethos to entertain readers and to inform them of why she carries a gun.

Epigenetics is the study of meiotically or mitotically heritable changes in gene function that do not result from changes in DNA sequence. On a molecular level, epigenetic phenomena are mediated by reversible marks such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs, and transcription factors. Previous research has shown that suppressive changes in histone modifications and decreases in DNA methylation occur with age. Additionally, there are cognitive, specifically in learning, memory, and processing speed, deficits associated with age in many animals. Cognitive research has localized the areas of the brain where these deficits originate, such as the medial temporal lobe, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, and shown that they are

Life experiences leave indelible epigenetic marks and consequently determine behaviour. Epigenetic mechanisms mediate the long-term effects of experience and exposure on behaviour and mental health. All examples cited above demonstrate that epigenetic modifications play a vital role in nervous system development, function, and gene regulation. These functions require stage specific and orchestrated gene expression for their proper progress. However, diverse studies into the possible role of epigenetics in the nervous system have revealed that they play a pivotal role in even more complex and ununderstood processes including memory and cognition and disorders such as anxiety, depression, trauma, autism and schizophrenia; for this reason epigenetic

Epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study, in the area of genetics; epigenomes control the way genes develop during a person’s lifespan. The epigenome doesn’t change your DNA, but decides how much or whether some genes manifest in different cells within the body. Tiny chemical compounds attach to the upper layer of the gene, which is made of carbon and hydrogen causing it to deactivate or go dormant. Genetic information in a cell isn’t necessarily permanent, it may vary throughout life, mostly change during a critical and/or sensitive period, for instance, puberty and pregnancy. It may also change suddenly based on environmental factors, such as, eating habits, stress levels, and daily activities. Additionally, epigenetics may be hereditary. Epigenetics will inform cells what cell they will become. This new discovery may lead us to the next big step in

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.

Cellular phenotypes can be ascribed to different patterns of gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms control the generation of different phenotypes from the same genotype. Thus differentiation is basically a process driven by changes in gene activity during development, often in response to transient factors or environmental stimuli. To keep the specific characteristics of cell types, tissue‐specific gene expression patterns must be transmitted stably from one cell to the daughter cells, also in the absence of the early‐acting determination factors. This heritability of patterns of active and inactive genes is enabled by mechanisms of epigenetic cellular memory that ensures mitotic and sometimes also meiotic transmission of expression patterns [1].