Epigenetics: A Comparative Analysis Of Cell Structure And Function

This phenomenon normally shapes culture, behavior, and language over a long period of time. Epigenetics is the study of cellular and physiological trait variations as caused by environmental factors that switch genes on and off. This phenomenon affects the way the cells read and interpret any changes in the DNA sequence. When this coordination fails, disease

Define Epigenetics  Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions and factors that influence the reactions controlling growth and development of an organism to be activated or deactivated in specific locations of genome at specific times.

Epigenetics is defined as the science that studies communicable and reversible changes in gene expression not involving changes in the genetic support that is DNA. These changes can occur at the DNA level (cytosine methylation) or DNA binding proteins

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

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 neuroscientist epigenetics is a new branch of genetics which addresses the effects of particular proteins affecting gene expression. It is the study of heritable changes in gene activity that are not caused by changes even if their DNA sequence code is the same, the way it functions can differ. Humans have 25,000 genes each one with their own function. Geneticists are studying a previously unknown aspect known as the epigenome: a series of chemicals that act like switches, which activate or deactivate individual genes. One of these switches (epi-markers) works by a process called DNA methylation, enzymes inside a cell attach a methyl group to a gene, this compound can deactivate or deactivate the gene, but the gene remains.

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,

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:

Every cell in your body contains the exact same DNA (genes). So, since every cell has the same genetic information, how come some cells become brain cells and other cells become heart cells? The answer is the "Epigenome." What the epigenome does is control which genes are active (switched ON) and which genes are inactive (switched OFF). The epigenome turns genes OFF and ON` controlling which genes are active, when they are active, and how long they are

A roadmap to our future is predetermined by our genetical makeup. However, can external influences such as environment and lifestyle unlock who we are? The study to understand heritable changes in genetical expression is called Epigenetics. Héctor González-Pardo and Marino Pérez Álvarez(2013) describes Epigenetics as the examination of the heritable complex genetical alterations that are shaped by environmental factors which don’t cause changes to the DNA Sequence. In other words, different cell/organism must use the same script in different ways. The study of epigenetics explores the idea that DNA is a script and not a manual. Accordingly, we can positively influence our lives as well as the lives of our offspring by leading a healthy lifestyle.

As of late there has been more of a focus on the Epigenetics component of mental illness.

Epigenetics tell your genes what to do. They are basically a switch turning a gene on or off. The research currently being done shows that the persons’ environment can directly affect their genes. Research being done by Michael Skinner shows that exposure to a known teratogen, pesticides, are having a direct impact on our genes. The pesticides are causing some epigenetics to turn on and others to shut off. This one example of how some teratogens are epigenetic influences. Yes, we need to be wary of where, when, how, and if we decide to use most household chemicals. There have been many studies showing that chemicals can affect our health. Further research needs to be done into epigenetics and teratogens in general and into household

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.

Such things (include?)like the histone modification or methylation of DNA. Some sources debate that ‘epigenetics’ refers to all environmental factors which cause the alterations to occur. Things like the smoke from cigarettes, the food that you eat, the environment inside the placenta, you amount of sleep you get, and your exercising habits[3]. As epigenetics becomes more prominent in science, the debate evolves and the definition changes. Scientists are considering the effects of these epigenetic modifications as well as what creates the modifications.