Epigenetics And Environment

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.

Burying the dogma of the genomics fixity, epigenetics demonstrates that our lifestyle changes our genes and we pass these mutations on. This discovery opens up new prospects of cure for many diseases. At the level of our genome, there are two kinds of genes: exons which are genes that are expressed and induce the production of certain proteins, and introns which are genes that are eliminated in the transcription of the RNA, and which therefore are not expressed. Environmental conditions could change that by opening introns or closing exons with all possible intermediate situations between these two extremes, from this perspective, epigenetics would correspond to an open or closed switch, to varying degrees. These different positions of switches then open the door to many combinations of genes. This seems to go against a current scientific dogma that considers the genome of a person is inherited from the parents and then remains fixed and determined for his entire life. Moreover, according to the evolutionary theory of Darwin, if mutations occur in a species facing a changing environment, these changes occur only over extremely long periods of time that often number in the thousands or even millions years. Epigenetics shows that on the contrary, these changes are a natural way and very common in nature. With Epigenetics: we can change our

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.

What makes one individual different from the other? Many have attempted to answer this question- from ancient philosophers and theologists to modern day scientists. Regardless of whether the individual concerned is a cell or a whole organism, the answer is said to lie in the nature vs. nurture debate. Thus arose another, related question- How do individuals with extremely similar blueprints develop an astounding amount of differences? Biological research attempting to settle the debate for once and for all has found that differences amongst a cohort of individuals is established by an interplay of both- genetics (nature) and various environmental influences (nurture).

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,

Epigenetics, as a simplified definition, is the study of biological mechanisms that will switch genes on and off.

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 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

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.

What is epigenetics? Epigenetics to me is the alteration to 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 on 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; we were able to see how much of a difference the Spanish twins genome

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

The study of epigenetics looks at how cells read genes and how genes are switched on/off by external chemical/environmental stimuli. Research into epigenetics may one day allow us to reprogram whole cells allowing for new forms of treatment for disease and a variety of different types of disorders including psychiatric.

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.

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.

In 2000, Dr. Lars Olov Bygren, a preventive-health specialist, concluded that the Norrbotten population of the 19th century plagued by years of depravation and harvest had undergone an epigenetic change. The Overkalix life-expectancy data was obvious based on the results and findings but Dr. Bygren wasn’t sure how such a change can occur just in one generation until he discovered an article on epigenetics. In the paper, Dr. Marcus Pembrey, a prominent geneticist, reasoned that the genes didn’t change but the epigenetic markers changed. This paper introduced a novel theory which ventured past Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection and evolution. Dr. Bygren emailed Dr. Pembrey his Overkalix life-expectancy findings and the two started working on the experiment together. Fortunately, around the same time, Jean Golding, an epidemiologist, was working on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The ALSPAC study tracked and monitored thousands of parents and their children even from before they were born. The parents and their children went through broad health and psychological analysis each year to demonstrate the effects of a person’s environmental factors on their