Three Main Pathways Of Epigenetic Modification

Epigenetics is a study that entails the heritage changes in gene expressions, which includes both the active and the inactive genes; the changes do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence. Meaning, it is a change in phenotypes without the differences in genotypes and consequently, affect how the cells read the genes. The epigenetic modification is a natural occurrence but apparently can be influenced by other several factors, including diseases, the environment, and age. Epigenetic changes can result in adverse damages and can end up causing infections such as cancer (Barton et al, 2016). This paper looks at what epigenetics entails, the hidden life of our genes, how food affects genes and how one can elongate life by improving health status.

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 refers to external modifications to DNA that turn genes on or off. These alterations do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells read genes. One common example of an epigenetic change is DNA methylation. DNA methylation is the addition of a methyl group to part of the DNA molecule which prevents certain genes from being expressed. It should be noted that epigenetics is a fairly new subdivision in genetics and its importance in evolution and heritability is currently being developed and debated (Furrow 2011).

Epigenetics is the study of cellular and physiological traits that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence but they are triggered by chemical reactions that activate and deactivate parts of the genome and in specific locations. Therefore, epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions and factors that influence them. Hypothetically, epigenetics has the huge potential in terms of the uncovering genetic development of organisms, including humans, and the impact of chemical reactions that occur under the impact of various factors and affect genome activation and deactivation in specific locations. In this regard, further studies and development of epigenetics is essential but the impact and role of epigenetics should not be overestimated

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, essentially, affects how genes are read by cells, and subsequently how they produce proteins.

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:

The environmental factors that impact the epigenome are diet of the organism, involvement in physical activities and exposure to toxins and stress.

Epigenetics is a field where advances are being made daily. Epigenetics is defined as “heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in DNA sequence,” as stated by Dr. Alan Wolffe. A way in which we can understand this definition is by taking the analogy of a card game. The cards, the DNA sequence, have been dealt and will not change, however we need to understand how to play the cards, the rules, which is epigenetics. The guidelines can vary and completely change the way the card game is played and who comes out on top. The rules that are studied and understood through this research paper are those of DNA methylation and chromatin. These changes can produce

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

For years, scientists believed DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, was the end-all-be-all: a mould for our cells to be created from. Which does not sound far-fetched since DNA contains all of the information needed for replication, differentiation, growth, and development, in addition to the countless cellular fates, as described in Waddington’s landscape. Instead, DNA is a guide for our cells, and Epigenetics is the tool that coerces them into their final cellular form. The Epigenetics Revolution: How Modern Biology Is Rewriting Our Understanding of Genetics, Disease, and Inheritance written by Nessa Carey, outlines the process of DNA versus Epigenetics, and the developments they have had within the scientific field. This paper will examine the fundamental distinction constructed by Nessa Carey between DNA as a script versus a template. This analogy of DNA as a script.

Epigenetics is the study of reactions that switch part of the genome at specific locations and time, and what factors influence them. A cell has a sum of signals that help on stabilizing the gene expression; these are epigenetics tags that are accumulated through cell development. While for decades scientists thought the new embryo’s epigenome was made from scratch it is now know that parents’ epigenetic tags play an important role in the life of the new creature. Most of the epigenetic tags are erased during the process of development in a process called “reprogramming” leaving the majority of the cell in a blank state though a few genes make it through the process without successful removal of the tags.

It is often thought that our DNA is a concert blue print and the way we personally engage with the environment has no effect on our future generation. However through experiments and recent studies, scientists have discovered external environmental factors can effect ones DNA sequence. It was found that genes have the ability to switch on and off and affect how cells read genes. This new avenue is called Epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression. It describes the outward phenotypic appearance that is not the result to changes in the DNA sequence but instead, changes to the chemical tags that overlay the genome. Epigenetics is often described as the missing link between the environment an individual is exposed

Epigenetic factors are compounds that attach to, or "mark" DNA. These factors interact with genetic material, but do not change the underlying DNA sequence. Instead, they act as chemical tags, indicating what, where, and when genes should be "turned on" or expressed. Some epigenetic factors come from natural sources or are even encoded in the DNA, and are a normal part of gene regulation. That is, the epigenome helps control which genes are active in a particular cell, and therefore, which proteins are transcribed locally. For example, epigenetic factors tell brain cells to act like brain cells, and skin cells to behave like skin cells. In the absence of a normal epigenome, disease can occur. These factors are also increasingly implicated in social and behavioral traits.

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