86Thousand400: Epigenetics

Study of heritable changes in gene expressions (active vs inactive genes) that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence – a change in genotype – which in turn affects how cells read the genes. Epigenetics makes us unique. Even though we are all human, why do some of us have blonde hair or dark skin? Why do some of us hate the taste of mushrooms or eggplants? Why are some of us more sociable than others? The different combinations of genes that are turned on or off is what makes us unique.

Epigenetics is the study of biological mechanisms that will switch genes on and off. What does that mean? Crash course in biochemistry and genetics:

- Cells are fundamental working units of every human being. All the instructions required to direct their activities are contained within the chemical deoxyribonucleic acid, also known as DNA

- DNA from humans is made up of approx. 3 billion nucleotide bases. There are four fundamental types of bases that comprise DNA – adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine, abbreviated to A, C, G and T. The sequence, or the order, of the bases is what determines our life instructions. Interestingly enough, our DNA sequence is mostly similar to that of a chimpanzee and only a fraction of distinctively different sequences make us human

- Within the 3 billion bases, there are about 20,000+ genes. Genes are specific sequences of bases that provide instructions on how important proteins – complex molecules that trigger various biological actions to carry out life functions. (That’s genetics – now epigenetics)

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

Important points about epigenetics:

- Epigentics Controls Genes: Certain circumstances in life can cause genes to be silenced or expressed over time. In other words, they can be turned off (becoming dormant) or turned on (becoming active).

- Epigenetics is everywhere: What you EAT, where you LIVE, who you interact with, when you SLEEP, how you EXERCISE, even aging – all of these can eventually cause chemical modifications around the genes that will turn those genes on or off over time. Additionally, in certain diseases such as cancer or alzheimers, various genes will be switched into the opposite state, away from the normal/healthy state.

- Epigenetics Makes us Unique: Even though we are all human, why are we so different? The different combinations of genes that are turned on or off is what makes us unique. Further more, there have been indications that some epigenetic changes can be inherited

- Epigenetics is reversible: With 20,000+ genes, what will the result of the different combinations of genes being turned on or off? Possible arrangements are enormous! But if we could map every single cause and effect of the different combinations, and if we could reverse the gene’s state to keep the good while eliminating the bad….then we could theoretically cure cancer, slow aging, stop obesity and much more

www.whatisepigenetics.com