Epigenetics

By Abby Johnson, Angel Vaughn, and Daniele Marcato

What is Epigenetics?

• The study of changes in gene activity that do not have to do with changes in actual DNAo Abnormal traits that (as far as we know) are

not necessarily determined in our genes or have no specific gene but are passed down through at least one generation

• Often relating to Nature v.s. Nurture

What is an Epigenome?• A large aspect of Epigenetics

o A "switch" that sits on and just outside of a regular genome is responsible for the inheritance of traits

caused by environment• The codes on Epigenomes tell genes whether to turn

on or off• Epigenomes determine small things

o Whether we whisper or talk loudly• Or more important things

o Immunity to diseaseo Obesityo Memory

What is an Epigenome?

• Although the Epigenome can greatly affect normal genomes, it is not evolution or DNA

• It only adjusts genes, it does not get rid of them or add new ones

• Just a response to enviornment and fades after a certain number of generations (But generations can be from 1-60+)

Effects of Epigenomes

• They are affected by certain life style choiceso Smokingo Eating habits

• When they are changed, they can cause certain genes to turn on or be stronger or can cause genes to become weaker or turn offo Eating to much might cause genes for obesity to

become stronger while turning genes that control life expectancy down

Experiment

• Dr. Lars Olov Bygren conducted an experiment where he collected data from kids born in 1905 who grew up in Norrbotten, Swedeno Small farming village

So small that if harvest was bad people starvedo Harvest was different year to year (to much--too

little)• Bygren collected data on these kids, their children,

and grandchildren to see what affect this eating pattern would have on them

Experiment• Bygren found that kids who had extreme eating

habits had kids and grandchildren who lived shorter liveso These kids died an average of 32 years before

children who had not experienced this diet• A separate Experiment where 14,024 pregnant

women from the same area were recruited by ALSPC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children)

• The children and parents have been analyzed sinceo Found that specific enviorment conditions in

pregnancy and durring infancy affect children  Peanut baby oil--peanut allergies  High anxiety durring pregnancy--baby gets

asthma Children kept extremely clean--higher risk

of eczema

Experiment

• The experiment also found that 166 fathers in the study had started smoking before age 11 (right before the body goes through puberty)o Sperm could have been effected by epigenomes,

changed by the early smoking• Sons of the 166 fathers on average had a higher BMI

than other children

Medical Advantages

• Scientist are further researching Epigenetics because, if they are able to be controlled, it would be helpful in the medical worldo Trying to develop medicine that is able to turn off

a negative epigenome and turn on a positive one 2004--the first epigenetic drug was approved

Azacitidine  Treats deadly blood tumors/cancers etc. Life expectancy is expanded by 9 months+

• Scientists are trying to develop other medicines that manipulate epigenomes for Cancer, Schizophrenia, Autism, Alzheimers, Diabetes, etc.

Acknowledgments

• http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1951968-4,00.html

•  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3411/02.html