The Epigenome

Introduction: Go to this linkthis link Once there play with the DNA 1.What do these different tags have to do with epigenetic expression of genes? a. methyl tags b. acetyl tags 2.Explain how both low and high levels of methylation can lead to cancerous cell growth.

Development and Memory Go to this linkthis link 1.What is the difference between a non differentiated and a differentiated cell? 2.Where do cell signals come from at the following developmental stages: early in development, after birth, into old age? 3.Summarize the relationship between the epigenome, memory and signals.

Epigenome and Inheritance 1.Explore the lick your rats link. Summarize how high nurtured and low nurtured rats have different genes expressed as adults.lick your rats 2.Explore imprinting and summarize the evolutionary impact of imprinted genes.mprinting 3.What are the implications for evolution that emerge as we understand the epigenome?

Nutrition and the Epigenome 1.What happens to rats where the agouti gene when it is methylated? What happens when this same gene is unmethylated? 2.Click on the detailed look at nutrients link and select two foods that you should eat, explain the epigentic reasons for your choices. 3.What have studies revealed about BPA and the agouti gene? 4.What evidence is there that the father’s diet can impact offspring? 5.Do you think what a pregnant mother eats can affect her offspring?

The Epigenetics of Identical Twins 1.Watch the video, what do you learn about identical twins and epigenetics? 2.How do the epigenetics tags found on the DNA of identical twins compare when they are 3 years old to when they are 50 years old? Provide a reason for these differences. 3.How can one identical twin develop breast cancer and the other one does not? Explain.