Sunday, April 15, 2018

Epigenetics

As we are wrapping up our unit on Genetics, there is one topic that I didn't teach you about....Epigenetics.

Watch the video above.  Don't worry, it is only 5 minutes.  Still curious?  You can also watch the following video for more background information.



Can our lifestyle and choices affect which genes are actually expressed?  What do you think?  In a scholarly paragraph, explain epigenetics.  What is epigenetics?  What is a gene that can be influenced by epigenetics?  Just because cancer is totally prevalent in your family, does that mean that you will definitely get cancer?  Is there anything that you can do to favor your healthy genes?  Has epigenetics been in the news?  What are some other studies saying about epigenetics?

You must write your paragraph and response by Friday, April 20th.  If you can include a link to another article about epigenetics at the end of your paragraph, then I will give you extra credit.

61 comments:

  1. After watching the video, I learned more about epigenetics and what it means. Epigenetics is the study on how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller molecules found within cells which can activate and deactivate genes. Epigenetics changes can boost or interfere with the transcription of specific genes. Most common way interference in DNA happens is when it gets labeled with small chemical tags. All of the chemical tags attached to the genome of a given cell is called a epigenome. This could derail the cellular transcription machinery or causing the DNA to coil more tighter. Boosting transcription will unwind the DNA which is the opposite. Epigenetic changes are part of normal development. The epigenome medicates a lifelong dialogue between genes and the environment. The chemical tags that turn genes on and off can be influenced by factors including diet, chemical exposure, and medication. Results in this can lead to diseases if they turn off a gene that makes a tumor-suppressing protein. Environmentally-induced epigenetics changes are part of the reason why genetically identical twins can grow up to have very different lives. Social experiences can cause epigenetic change. http://www.pnas.org/content/110/9/3209

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found it cool to know how tumor suppressor genes suddenly stop in humans because of chemical exposure.

      Delete
    2. Well said, I agree.

      Delete
    3. I watched the other video but this sounds very interesting about the chemical tags.

      Delete
    4. It is very interesting how two people can have the exact same genes yet the environment has the greatest impact of all.

      Delete
  2. After watching the video I found it crazy that our choices and decisions and even how we are raised decides the epigenetics of our cells. Epigenetics boost or deactivate genes by getting tags these tags are epigenomes these tags interfere with gene deactivating it. What the epigenomes do goes back to nature vs nurture as if you have a healthy lifestyle chemical exposure and other factors will decide if you get the tag deactivating the gene or not. I found it odd that even social experiences like getting made fun of can put a tag on a gene.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought it was interesting as well that being made of can put a tag on a gene.

      Delete
    2. That is very interesting.

      Delete
  3. After carefully reading and processing the video “What is epigenetics?”, I am able to understand that the life we live can affect the way we develop, both genetically and as people. Epigenetics is the study of how DNA interacts with the molecules located in a cell which can activate and deactivate genes. The lifestyle that we live can affect the molecules in those cells which therefore affect our DNA. For example, if we live a life with a healthy diet and the correct amount of exercise, our DNA can change our genes for the better. And that DNA can then be passed onto the next generation of our families; which leads to the conclusion that in order for someone to pass on healthy and well-influenced DNA, they must live an overall healthy lifestyle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is cool how nature vs nurture plays a role in your genes

      Delete
    2. I also think it is interesting how with the correct amount of exercise our DNA can change our genes.

      Delete
  4. After watching the video Epigenitics is a certain piece of dna that interacts with other pieces of dna to use our life experiences to determine how our kids may act. Epigentic genes are supposed to be destroyed when egg and sperm appear but scientists believe that some get through so some life decisions that your parents made our a life experience you had as a kid shaped you the way you are today.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Epigenetics basically describes how nurture can affect nature. For example, someone who has a predisposition for lung cancer, doesn’t have to get lung cancer if they live a healthy life, but if they choose to smoke, they’ll be at more risk than people who didn’t have a predisposition. Personally, I’ve never seen epigenetics in the news, but then again I don’t watch the news, so I couldn’t say whether or not it’s been shown. By living a healthy lifestyle, anyone could avoid some of the bad genes they were dealt. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/breakthroughs-in-epigenetics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 100% agree. I think that as long as you stay healthy, you can dodge those bad genes coming your way.

      Delete
    2. I also have not see or heard of epigenetics, this was my first time learning about it.

      Delete
  6. I watched the video epigenetics it talked about how diet chemical exposure medication and even social encounters can change genes forever. Epigenetics interfere with DNA by either hiding the trait or transcribing it more than other traits. This is why Identical twins can be so different. As twins get older their become more and more different because of epigenetic interferences throughout their life. Your parents epigenetics can be passed down to you and affect your life. Overall this video talked about how good habits lead to a better healthier life for you and your kids.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you think that through a balanced life you can overcome any mistakes your parents passed down from epigenetics?

      Delete
  7. After watching the video, I thought epigenetics was actually really interesting. Epigenetics is the study of how Dna interacts with the multitude smaller molecules found in cells which can activate and deactivate genes. Epigenetics changes can either boost or interfere with the transcription of certain genes. Epigenos are attached to the gene on the cell. Epigenetic changes can survive cell division which is surprising to me. Especially because it can affect an organism for its entire life. Each of our many cells have the same geno but it own specific epigeno. Environmentally induced epigenetic changes is how twins can have different lifes and social experiences can cause epigenetic changes. Overall this subject is pretty interesting to me and especially because of how twins can be so different all because of this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. By watching and taking in the video, I learned what epigenetics was, and how it plays a role in our lives. Epigenetics is the study of how DNA interacts with molecules inside of cells, which activate and deactivate certain genes. These changes can survive through cell division, so a gene can affect and organism for as long as it lives. These can be influenced by medications, diet, chemicals, and even social experiences. This means that your parents’ choices or actions made as a child can affect your epigenetics. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, we are favoring our epigenetics.
    https://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is fascinating that every choice we make and place we go could effect our epigenetics.

      Delete
  9. Epigenetics is a newly researched topic that evaluates how DNA interacts with other molecules found within our cells, possibly allowing a change in the activation of genes. After genes are changed into RNA and go through protein synthesis, Epigenetics can interfere with the function of our genes. DNA or the proteins surrounding it are labeled which can stop the gene from doing its job or showing up. These epigenetic changes can survive cell division and result in diseases. Other studies are determining the possibility of epigenomes being passed on to our offspring; however, most changes are erased when the egg and sperm cells meet. Our lifestyle and choices we make could influence our epigenetics because of the environment around us and the things we put in our body.

    ReplyDelete
  10. After I watched the epigentics video, I learned that it is the study of how DNA and smaller masses of molecules from cells interact with each other, and that it could activate and deactivate genes. the most common way of interference is when it gets labeled with a little chemical tag. The chemical tags attached to a genome is then named a epigenome. This could cause the DNA to more tightly coil itself. The chemical tags can be influenced on whether or not they turn cells on or off. Such influences are medication, diet and how you expose yourself to chemicals.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Epigentics is the study of how DNA mingles with the smaller molecules found in cells. Epigenes can activate or silence cells. Epigenes can interfere with DNA by attaching chemical tags on the cell. This could mess up the reading of DNA by coiling it up too much. I found it kind of interesting that your parents choices could affect your epigenetics. Also scientists are beginning to find ways we could change our epigenetics.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This video describes epigenetics as the study of proteins and genomes being capable of suppressing and boldening different traits found within the dna. This, to me, seems very likely and needs to be looked into deeper. By studying these proteins and epigenomes we could possibly find cures for different diseases such as heart disease or even cancer. It is these genomes that can make twins so drastically different. This epigenomes are able to be altered by different life experiences and choices such as smoking or stress. These different effects could cause needed genes to be suppressed. By eating healthy and exercising these genes could be brought back to their original needed form which could possibly save lives.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I watched the video "What is epigenetics?" and found it very interesting. I learned that epigenetics is the study of how epigenomes can be affected by how we interact with our environment. I learned that these little chemical tags attach to our DNA and interfere or boost it. There also factors that can change our genes, which are diet, exercise, and chemical exposure. But the most interesting is that experiences that we have can affect our epigenome. For example, rats that were neglected had their genes interfered with to suppress their stress relieving gene. Finally the coolest part was our parents experiences and decisions as kids can affect our epigenomes. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/breakthroughs-in-epigenetics

    ReplyDelete
  14. In the video I watched about epidemics it started with two twins separated at birth. They grew up completely different one robbed banks and one was very educated. But what it went over was nature and nurture. This really interested me because they started about the same and ended up completely different. Lastly I thought it was crazy how different these kids ended up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it’s interesting how different they grew up

      Delete
  15. While watching the video, I was interested in how epigenetics can change and boost the transcription of genes. Multiples problems can result from when the chemical tags attached to the DNA called epigenomes interfere. They make proteins that can cause tumors. But, epgentics are also cool because they determine difference bettered identical twins. This is due to nurture (social interactions).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I also found it interesting how epigenetics can change and boost transcription of genes and how it makes even identical twins different.

      Delete
    2. It's so weird how it can make differences in twins

      Delete
    3. When watching the video I was also very interested on what could happen with this.

      Delete
  16. Nature and nurture are said to go hand in hand through epigenetics. Epigenetics is defined as “the study of now DNA interacts with smaller molecules that can activate or deactivate” parts of genes. During a research project with rats, researchers found that caring, high-licking mothers would continue this tendency with their mother. After switching an offspring from a high-liking mother to a low-liking mother they found that each rat broke their family patterns almost instantly. This was due to methyl groups silencing genes. Rats with high-liking mothers had no methyl groups and which meant the nurturing of rats had physically altered them. However methyl is not the only chemical tag (known an epigenome) to alter DNA. Others are influenced by external factors such as stress, health, medicine and nutrition. Overall, everyone is born with a genome that will face the effects of life causing no person to be exactly the same no matter their genetic make-up.

    http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/brain/

    ReplyDelete

  17. Today I watched the video about epidemics starting with two twins that were separated at birth. They grew up leading very divergent lives; one was a very knowledgable and educated person and the other was a criminal who robbed banks and stole. I think this can be linked to how depending how they are cared for as kids. Even if they start with the same characteristics, life can throw them them own way and they can end up becoming completely different. It makes sense in the end that the predictable parallel lives results in very different paths.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that nature and nurture both have a huge influence on how different your lives can be, even if you are an identical twin.

      Delete
  18. After watching the second video, I learned a lot of interesting things about Epigenetics. And how it plays a big role in how our choices and decisions decides the epigenetics of our cells. In the question about cancer, I think that even if cancer is prevalent in a family, it does not mean you will get cancer. Epigenetics can boost or deactivate certain genes by getting tags. These are called Epigenomes. And if you do have a Health way of living, then I think it could prevent cancer in your body.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I thought it was crazy that twins can be so different.

      Delete
  19. Before this video, I had never heard of epigenetics. It seems so complex from chemical tags to determining the difference between identical twins. I find it very interesting that the actions of our parents can pass to us through our epigenetics. It is also very exciting that scientists are getting closer and closer to finding cures and causes for diseases like cancer and mental illness through epigenetics!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I learned a lot in this video about Epigenetics. This is the study of how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller molecules found within cells. Epigenetics boosts or deactivates genes by getting tags, and these tags are epigenomes which interfere with the deactivation of genes. To answer your question Mrs. Mazzuca, if cancer runs in your family you may not always get it. This is because of a recessive gene in your parents. I also found it interesting that if you live a healthier lifestyle it changes our genes for the better. Overall it was a great video.

    ReplyDelete
  21. For years people have always wondered whether or not nature vs. nurture affects your genes and your DNA. Epigenetics is the study of how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller genes found within cells, which can activate and deactivate genes. I do think that our lifestyle choices affect our epigenetics because like the video said, with identical twins, their epigenomes diverge as they get older affecting their age and increasing their risks of diseases. Despite how similar identical twins are, their epigenomes are still different from one another. Just based on this one fact, it would be really fascinating to see how diverse other people's epigenomes are especially if they aren't identical twins. I think that although people may look identical, it is very interesting to see how their different life decisions have such a big influence on their genes and their DNA.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/02/science/epigenetic-marks-dna-genes.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. Epigenetics are the study of how DNA interacts with little molecules. I thought this was really cool, especially form the Nature vs. Nurture stand point. I think that it is crazy how these epigenetics are able to affect how we could act and possibly , our parents childhoods could affect our epigenetics and impact us. So, I guess we really should be careful what we do as kids. This is my first time ever hearing about Epigenetics but I'm curious to find out more about it and how it can affect our personalities and future children's personalities and health. Here's a link I found to a article on Epigenetics on Discover.com.
    http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes

    ReplyDelete
  23. Epigenetics is about how dna reacts with molecules in our cells. It can either activate or silence cells and our parents can affect it. Epigenetics can determine the way we act and are today in which can be very similar to our parents. I found it really interesting how they determine the differences between identical twins.

    ReplyDelete
  24. While watching the video i learned that epigenetics can change and boost transcription of genes. I found it very interesting how one of those name tags interfere or enhance the DNA strand. Before the video I had no idea what epigenetics were but now I know that it is the study of proteins and genomes, as well as how DNA interacts with other molecules. I found the video very interesting and found it cool how this could explain how identical twins can still grow up to be very different.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I did not know what epigenetics was until this video, and its very interesting while also making alot of sense. I find it so cool that twins can be so different even with the same genes, because of chemical tags. I also find it interesting nature vrs nurture plays a roll, and epigenetics may be the way of finding a cure for diseases such as cancer.

    ReplyDelete
  26. After watching this video I learned, that epigenetics is about how DNA can interact with genes and even deactivate them. This is based on life choices such. For example twins even though they have the same DNA can be different because of their separate experiences and activated genes. This can also influence your children by genes not passing through. Because of this I learned to keep a healthy lifestyle so my kids can be healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  27. After watching each video, I learned that one's life experiences can actually alter which genes are expressed or not!`This can occur through epigenetics, or "above genetics," which gives out chemicals that can turn off or on certain genes due to life experiences. For example, a epigenone may inhibit or catalyze a certain genome, let's say a tumor suppressant, and either increase or decrease your chances of developing malignant tumors, even if your family has a history of caner. Beneficial changes such as these may be influenced by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and avoiding certain chemicals. Recently, epigenetics have been in the news as it is a fairly recent discovery, and depicts the interactions between nature and nurture.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Epigenetics is the study of how genes can be “modified” without changing the whole sequence. One of the bigger reasons this can be important is because it can change how we act and decide to go on with our life. For example, the two separated twins in the video couldn’t be more different despite coming from the same Mom. One was smart and did well in school while the other was out robbing banks. I think epigenetics should be relevant today because if we can further study this, we can figure out more about human behavior and possibly how to make it better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, it would help us learn a lot more about people.

      Delete
  29. Our lifestyle can affect which genes are actually expressed. They can be changed but not forever. I think that this can be life changing for many people if they figure out how to ramp up a cancer killing gene. Epigenetics is the study of a little tag almost on our genome that alters that cell and or code of DNA. Stress management can be affected by this. No it does not, something that you do in your life means that you can alter the tag that is on the genome and stop the cancer from starting. Epigenetics has not been in the news from what I have seen. It has not really been talked about at all. Studies are saying that one we figure out the way that it works we can change peoples lives.

    ReplyDelete

  30. I had no idea what epigenetics was until I watched the two videos. I found it rather interesting how nature and nurture can affect your genes, but when you think about it, it makes sense. A child whose parents didn’t give them attention are going to grow up a very different life compared to a child whose parents loved them. It can also be a bad thing how your childhood can affect the way your kids turn out through epigenetics. The experiment about the rats proves the point of how the first few years of your life affect the rest of your life greatly. Also how healthy foods and exercise can help you live a long healthy life despite your epigenetics

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think that it is very interesting that our environment and social interaction can actually change weather or not our DNA is shown and how easily it can be copied into RNA. This makes me think about the experiment where they separated the twins at birth and how their DNA could be exemplified, or exploited. This also proves that nurture is more powerful than nature.I wonder I my DNA has changed anyway and if so, how?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that nurture makes more sense of how the interaction of the organism could change part of their DNA.

      Delete
  32. An epigenetic trait is a stably heritable phenotype resulting from changes in a chromosome without alterations in the DNA sequence. These changes in gene activity may stay for the remainder of the cell's life and may also last for many generations of cells, through cell divisions. However, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism. Instead, non-hereditary factors cause the organism's genes to behave differently. A change in epigentics can cause cancer.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Epigenetics is the study of how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller molecules found within cells which can activate and deactivate genes. The genes in DNA are exposed when they are read and transcribed into RNA. The most common way this interference happens, is when DNA or protein it’s wrapped around gets labeled with small chemical tags. These chemical tags can changes can survive cell division, which means the organism can be affected by cancer, or other health problems and diseases. Epigenomes can also be affected by diet, chemical exposure, and medication. In order to prevent these things from happening, it is important to live a healthy life, by eating healthy and exercising. Even if cancer, or other life threatening diseases run in your family, you can still lower the likelihood of having cancer by doing so.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I was curious to find out what epigenetics was before watching the video. It is the study of how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller molecules found within cells. Epigenetics can can activate and also deactivate genes. Epigenetic changes can "boost or interfere" with transcription. I thought this was all really cool, but still wondered what that looked like exactly.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I found epigenetics to be really interesting. I learned that epigenetics is the study of how DNA interacts with the multitude of smaller molecules found within cells. It can develop within your own genetic codes by habits that organisms inherit through their parents or just their environment in general. For example, the mother mouse that had the licking habit (in the second video) passed her habits down to her young which then did the same to their babies. The mouse that did not have that habit covered the genetic codes of her baby to be a non-licking mother. I wonder if it's the same concept for human mothers that spoil their kids more if they were spoiled as kids themselves. I would totally agree that is has a lot to do with the nature vs. nurture argument as well.

    ReplyDelete
  36. After watching the video about epigenetics i found it interesting how twins can grow up to be two very different people. I found the nature vs. nurture part cool and how our sometimes our parents can pass on some of their epigenetics to their kids. Some things like social experiences can cause epigenetic change for example if you get bullied during your childhood and epigenetic change might be that you could get depression. There are good and bad epigenetic changes that can be passed to your children, a good could be that you pass healthy epigenetics to your kids, a bad example could be passing depression to you child or children.

    ReplyDelete