Epigenetics - 1340 Words

ONE of biology’s hottest topics is epigenetics. The term itself covers a multitude of sins. Strictly speaking, it refers to the regulation of gene expression by the chemical modification of DNA, or of the histone proteins in which DNA is usually wrapped. This modification is either the addition of methyl groups (a carbon atom and three hydrogens) to the DNA or of acetyl groups (two carbons, three hydrogens and an oxygen) to the histones. Methylation switches genes off. Acetylation switches them on. Since, in a multicellular organism, different cells need different genes to be active, such regulation is vital. What has got a lot of people excited, though, is the idea that epigenetic switches might be transmitted down the generations.†¦show more content†¦The term itself covers a multitude of sins. Strictly speaking, it refers to the regulation of gene expression by the chemical modification of DNA, or of the histone proteins in which DNA is usually wrapped. This modification is either the addition of methyl groups (a carbon atom and three hydrogens) to the DNA or of acetyl groups (two carbons, three hydrogens and an oxygen) to the histones. Methylation switches genes off. Acetylation switches them on. Since, in a multicellular organism, different cells need different genes to be active, such regulation is vital. What has got a lot of people excited, though, is the idea that epigenetic switches might be transmitted down the generations. Some see this as contrary to Darwinism, since it would permit characteristics acquired during an organism’s lifetime to be passed on to its offspring, as suggested by a rival theory of evolution put forward by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. This is an exaggeration. The DNA sequence itself is not being permanently altered. Even those epigenetic changes that are inherited seem to be subsequently reversible. But the idea that acquired characteristics can be inherited at all is still an important and novel one, and a worrying example of the phenomenon has been published this week in BioMed Central Medicine. In this section * Lake monsters * A third-world dimension *Show MoreRelatedEpigenetic Modifications to the Human Genome523 Words   |  2 PagesEpigenetic modifications to the human genome have increasingly become the subject of scientific research due to a presumptive role in the pathology and progression of degenerative diseases. Conventionally, methylation of a nucleotide residue is associated with gene repression, whereas acetylation of a nucleotide residue is associated with gene expression. Through a member of the DNA methyltransferase protein family, the formation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) from a previously unmodified cytosine residueRead MoreWhat ´s Epigenetic Landscape?943 Words   |  4 Pagesit can do for us but, thanks to the works of Dr. Conrad H. Waddington â€Å"Epigenetic Landscape† 1939, which was followed up and expanded on by Dr. Adrian Bird and Danny Reinberg (1975~) we know that it does exist and it has far reaching implications for future development in medical research and biological development fields. ï‚ § Risk assessment ï‚ § Prevention ï‚ § Progression analysis ï‚ § Prognosis and biomarker development Epigenetics ~ is the term coined to explain a variety of â€Å"bizarre† phenotypic phenomenaRead MoreThe, Genetic And Epigenetic Mutations1064 Words   |  5 Pagescommon diseases in the world, is a result of genetic and epigenetic mutations. Where genetics was at first used to explain phenotypes and disease, genetics alone could not explain the sheer amount of phenotypic diversity in a population—nor could it explain phenomenon such as how, â€Å"monozygotic twins or cloned animals [could] have different phenotypes and different susceptibilities to a disease.† Thus entered the field of epigenetics. Epigenetics is, â€Å"the study of heritable changes in gene expressionRead MoreIntroduction:. Epigenetics Studies The Biological Information1364 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: Epigenetics studies the biological information that can be inherited in addition to the DNA, through biochemical changes such as methylation and histone modifications that can affect gene expression and lead to a particular phenotype [9]. Epigenetic plasticity can be influenced by internal and external factors, such as the in utero environment of early development [9]. The intrauterine environment can have short and long term effects on the health and future disease state of offspringRead MoreThree Main Pathways Of Epigenetic Modification1783 Words   |  8 PagesEpigenetic Modifications in Cancer Scientists have known for several decades that cancer may be caused by mutations in the DNA of cells. These mutations may result from exposure to certain substances (e.g. radiation, benzene) or they may occur spontaneously in the process of cell division, especially in the context of aging. Recently, researchers have discovered another level of inherited cellular information separate from the genes themselves. Epigenetics is the study of modifications to genesRead MoreBehavioral Epigenetics : Biological Heredity And Nurture1428 Words   |  6 Pagesothers do not? Behavioral epigenetics examines how nurture shapes nature, where nature refers to biological heredity and nurture refers to everything that occurs during the animal s lifespan. Epigenetics is the study of alterations in an organism caused by modifications of gene expressions instead of alterations of the genetic code itself. Behavioral epigenetics is the field of study, which analyzes the role epigenetics have in shaping h uman or animal behavior. Epigenetics works by wrapping DNA aroundRead MoreDiet Mediated And Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects1186 Words   |  5 PagesDiet-Mediated and Transgenerational Epigenetic Effects An offspring’s microbial composition is initially determined through maternal transmission in utero and during birth, however, after delivery, the microbiota is not fixed and may be changed by a multitude of environmental factors. The mode of delivery (vaginal or caesarean section), diet, and many other factors continue to play dynamic roles throughout an individual’s lifetime (Marques et al., 2010). Recent studies have indicated that maternalRead MoreBackground Explanation Of Epigenetics By Conrad Waddington883 Words   |  4 PagesMorimoto, 2004). Background Explanation of Epigenetics Epigenetics What is epigenetics? Epigenetics is a term that was coined by Conrad Waddington that describes the heritable changes in the cellular phenotypes that are observed independently of alterations that occurs in the DNA sequence (Dawson Kouzarides, 2012). He proposed that there was a link between development and genetics, which is where the field of epigenetics came from. The word epigenetics itself was derived from a Greek word epigenesistRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Epigenetics And Human Disease 1764 Words   |  8 Pagesenvironment can be very different? (Coutney Griffin 2012) Cortney Griffin elaborated on how her journey of having twins lead her to a deeper understanding of what epigenetics truly is. This talk, although vastly viewed in biochemistry classes including at the University of Texas of El Paso, differs from the scholarly article â€Å"Epigenetics and human disease: translating basic biology into clinical applications† by David Rodenhiser and Mellissa Mann. The ir most prominent similarities and differencesRead MoreEssay about What is Epigenetics and How Can It Effect Me?772 Words   |  4 PagesBefore conducting research and watching numerous informational videos on epigenetics, I would have never believed that when my grandmother was my age, she made dietary decisions that have affected me. Technically speaking, epigenetics simply means above genetics. In other words, epigenetics is the traits that you and I inherit, but do not necessarily necessitate the sequence of genes. I took me a while to actually grasp the concept until I thought of it from a musical perspective. Imagine our DNA