Who Turned My Genes Off !

Who Turned My Genes Off!?

Genes, those tiny building blocks of life, are inherently fascinating. How do a bunch of cells turn into a human being? How do the cells know what they are destined to be? A red blood cell, a skin cell, or a brain cell? The field of epigenetics may be able to answer those questions. According to the textbook, Pinel (2014) defines epigenetics as “the study of all mechanisms of inheritance other than the genetic code and its expression” (p.41). In other words, gene expression is influenced by many other factors that determine if the gene can express itself (Pinel, 2014). How does this mechanism work? To begin with, Pinel reminds us that important advancements in the field of epigenetics occurred with the completion of the Human Genome Project as well as research conducted on plants

and animals (Pinel, 2014).

Areas of non-structural DNA, previously known as junk DNA, are now known to be active and able to control gene expression and this is also true of small RNA molecules which act upon messenger RNA by RNA editing (Pinel, 2014). Other mechanisms that regulate gene expression include the widely studied methods of DNA methylation (decreases adjacent gene expression) and histone remodeling (increases or decreases expression) (Pinel, 2014). The final product of genetic expression or regulation can be seen in the example of a caterpillar culminating into a butterfly (Nisic, 2009). They both have the exact DNA, however, the regulation of expression of certain genes during maturation produces the final state of butterfly. As epigenetics continues to examine the process of genetic inheritance and expression, I believe it will transform how we

diagnose and treat disease.
The advances in epigenetics has transformed our understanding of genetic inheritance. Pinel (2014) states that DNA methylation and histone remodeling can be stimulated by experiences such as neural activity, hormonal states, and environmental changes which can be lifelong and passed on to offspring. Pinel (2014) describes two different studies on sets of twins that show how experience influences epigenetic differences. The first study on monozygotic twins found that due to DNA methylation and histone remodeling, the epigenetic profile was different as the twins aged (Pinel, 2014). The second study mentioned involved epigenetic changes in both monozygotic and dizygotic twins at ages 5 and 10. In this study, DNA methylation was assessed and was pronounced in both groups which lead researchers to conclude that DNA methylation differences were the product of experiential influences (Pinel, 2014). Results from these two studies show that it is possible to explain why disease develops in one twin and not the other, therefore, clues to how diseases initiate may be provided by epigenetic differences (Pinel, 2014). As our understanding of how experiential factors really affects our gene expression, I think this information can be transformational as to how we approach disease and treatment.
In conclusion, epigenetics is basically figuring out why and how genes are turned on and off. The advances in epigenetics have greatly enhanced scientists basic understanding of genetic inheritance and I believe further research and knowledge will greatly impact the health of future generations.

References
Nisic,H. (Director) (2009). Epigenetics: The hidden life of our genes [Video file]. Retrieved October 19, 2017, from https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=98127&xtid=43376