Epigenetics in the BBC News
A nice write-up in the BBC News explaining epigenetics and how it might be partially responsible for chronic lifestyle diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
It wasn’t until the 1990’s that epigenetic processes, biochemical and structural changes to DNA that controlled whether genes are ‘on or off’, were recognised as important in regulating how genes are expressed.
It explains why even identical twins have many differences by the time they are adults, because even though they have the same genes, changes in epigenetic controls over time in response to environmental factors, alter how those genes are expressed.
For more on epigenetics, see my previous posts:
- Mother’s Diet Influences Gene Function in Offspring
- Mothers’ Vitamin Intake Affects Gene Function in Offspring
Technorati Tags: epigenetics, genetics, genes, dna, disease, health, bbc
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health
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1 opinion for Epigenetics in the BBC News
Genetics and Health » Scottish Mothers’ Diet Influences Children’s Future Weight
Jul 3, 2006 at 4:36 am
[…] Epigenetics is in the news again. This time, scientists studied Scottish babies and determined that they are heavier in a statistically significant way than babies in other parts othe UK. […]
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