Beginning of the chapter Epigenetics and genetics 18 Beginning of the chapter Epigenetics and genetics
GENETICS Epi-Genetics
Genetics - blueprint of the body EPIGENETICS What is epigenetics? Genetics - blueprint of the body Instruction: How is food digested? Instruction: How are blood sugar levels regulated? Instruction: What color should eyes have? Instruction: How are strong bones built? Gene defective >> missing function of the body >> disease Epigenetics - "volume control" for the genes Environmental factors turn genes on (make them LOUDER) Environmental factors turn genes off (they make QUIETER) „Louder“ und „Quieter“ genes influence processes in the body Epigenetic programming can be inherited
EPIGENETICS What is epigenetics? 1944 Netherlands 1947 Netherlands 1997 Netherlands 2013 Netherlands Famine 400kcal/Day Heart disease Breast cancer Obesity Heart disease Breast cancer Obesity Environmental impact on the mother in 1944 influences the health of the descendants two generations later
How does epigenetics work? Lactose digestion Lactose digestion GTCTTACTTAGCCCTTTAAAGATCGAATCCGCGGCAGAATACATCGAAGGATTCGCTATATTAGG Heterochromatin
How does epigenetics work? Famine 400kcal/Tag Function A Function B Function C Function D Function E Function F
How does epigenetics work?
How does epigenetics work? If epigenetics can turn on or off different genes, doesn‘t this overrule the genetic defects? Lactose digestion GTCTTACTTAGCCCTTTAAAGATCGAATCCGCGGCAGAATACATCGAAGGATTCGCTATATTAGG Answer: Some genetic defects destroy the instructions for the body. These instructions are completely lost, and cannot be recovered by epigenetics. >> Gene mutations cause severe diseases
Epigenetics and genetics 18 End of the chapter Epigenetics and genetics