Epigenetic

Epigenetic
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Epigenetic
Epigenetics is the study of inheritable alteration that occurs in gene expression without being influenced by any change in DNA sequence. As a theory, epigenesis holds that human embryos are capable of developing progressively from undifferentiated egg cell (Gibney & Nolan, 2010). In this study, the concepts of epigenesis are reviewed to understand its role in the existence of various conditions such as phenotypes, behaviors and diseases, and how to address these conditions for healthy and prolonged life. In doing so, this study will gather research from peer-reviewed sources and findings from a brief family history.
Concepts of Epigenesis
All living organisms have Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) that contains information that is transcribed, translated and modified into a set of characteristics and sometimes behaviors. The way in which the DNA influences certain traits in an organism is a genetic expression and occurs mainly during the mitotic stages. It is during this stage that cells inherit information encoded in DNA. However, there is information that is not encoded in the DNA sequence. This is referred to as epigenetic information (Gibney & Nolan, 2010) and is usually influenced by environmental factors. Consequently, the information influences various traits that are different from those of the other identical organism (“Epigenetics,” 2007). In this case, epigenetics is more superior than genomes as it determines unique characteristics individuals have in a group.

According to the video Epigenetics (2007), epigenesis controls the type of cells and induces the differences between similar cells by silencing some traits. Unlike gene instructions, epigenetic instructions change with time, accounting for differences observable in identical twins. The video provides valuable information that explains many phenomena such as diseases or characteristics that are observable in related organisms. For example, it brings in a presentation of two mice that despite having the same DNA, they have different sizes, skin color and with one being obese.
Family History
According to my family’s history, the influence of epigenesis is evident in the way some relatives have struggled with diseases. One of my first cousins has been diagnosed with Hyperglycemia and my younger brother with depression. One of my aunties has struggled with breast cancer for years while three others in my family suffer from diabetes type II. These three are my father, grandfather and one of an uncle. Analytically, this makes me at risk of diabetes since the disease seems to affect many of my closest relatives.
Since epigenesis influence different characteristics in a family based on environmental factors such as the diet, substance use, and lifestyle, there are better chances of reducing the risk of Diabetes. Adequately, epigenesis explains the presence of other diseases such as high blood sugar and cancer even though some members, especially in the nuclear family, could be having similar characteristics such as height, hair, and eye color.
Article Review
In the article Epigenetic Alterations In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Karachanak-Yankova et al. (2015) reveal that epigenesis plays a vital role in both pathogenesis and development of type II diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The part occurs during methylation of various genes including BRCA1 that acts as a tumor suppressor and Tp53 that codes protein responsible for tumor suppression.Others genes are CCND1, Prdx2, and SCARA3. Methylation is the addition of methyl chemicals in DNA to influence some changes (Karachanak-Yankova et al., 2015). Also, methylation is capable of changing the DNA composition without altering its sequence.
The methylation of both Prdx2 and SCARA3 that acts as stress protectors inhibits their oxidation roles leading to T2DM complications (Karachanak-Yankova et al., 2015). In this case, increased methylation influences the pathogenesis of Diabetes mellitus. Also, the article revealed that the methylation is also responsible for the development of cancer that is more common among the patients diagnosed with Diabetes II. Somehow, this could explain the breast cancer that my auntie was diagnosed with in the past. Thi supports that the presence of both diabetes and cancer in my family as per the history chart is genetic. However, and since environmental factors profoundly influence epigenesis, there is a possibility that one can avoid the risk of both cancer and diabetes. An extensive analysis using the Living To 100 Questionnaire tool reveals exciting findings that one can change these environmental factors for healthy living.
Findings From The Questionnaire, Family History, and The Article
In a general point of view, the findings from this online tool revealed that my life expectancy is 83 years. The prediction was based on many questions about my family history, medical history, lifestyle behaviors and gender. The tool enquired if some of my relatives have ever been diagnosed with certain diseases including cancer and blood sugar. Also, it also enquired if I have ever been diagnosed with some ailments, if I do smoke, eat fast foods and drink coffee and if I do exercise. In brief, these are environmental factors that can influence changes in the DNA. In broad categories, they are lifestyle, genetic, medical factors.
Ways To Improve Health And Longevity
Based on the literature achieved by this study, there are many ways one can ensure a healthy and long life. Since environmental factors influence epigenetics, it is possible to prevent or obstruct the pathogenesis of a disease. According to Gibney and Nolan (2010), these factors are nutrients, early stress, temperature and poisoning (such as that with heavy metals) and can influence the behaviors and phenotype of both the parents and their offspring. Therefore, monitoring some factors such as diet and preventing others such as stress and poisoning can help live healthily. Results from the questionnaire confirm this as it recommends various changes in lifestyle, nutrients, and exposure to some substances. For example, one of the recommendations is avoiding fast foods and including calcium in the diet. The study by Karachanak-Yankova et al. (2015) confirms this and adds that fast foods such as meat and chips can increase the risk of diabetes and blood sugar. Other similar recommendations for prevention of diseases from the questionnaires include cutting down the caffeine dose, preventing exposure to sunrays, taking aspirins and engaging in physical exercises.
Conclusion
In brief, epigenesis can be termed as a process through which environmental factors influence organism’s phenotype and behavior. It occurs above the instructions above DNA, thereby causing differential trait between two identical organisms by altering the changes that do not affect the DNA sequence. It is for this reason that it is considered superior to the genome. Several research studies have established a link between epigenesis and various condition such as diseases. For example, the article by Karachanak-Yankova et al. has pointed out the critical link between epigenesis and diabetes Mellitus 2 and cancer. The link is found in the ways alterations occur in the DNA through methylation thereby causing some genes to fail in their roles. All these alterations, however, are attributed to environmental factors. Therefore, this study has found that adjusting these factors such as diet can help reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes. Other preventive measures include physical activities, reducing intake of sugar, fats, and coffee, and avoiding substance abuse.
References
Epigenetics. (2007). The United States. Www.pbs.org. Retrieved from https://florida.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/biot09.sci.life.gen.epigenetics/epigenetics/#.Wo5tIOhua01
Gibney, E. R., & Nolan, C. M. (2010). Epigenetics and gene expression. Heredity, 105(1), 4-13. doi:10.1038/hdy.2010.54
Karachanak-Yankova, S., Dimova, R., Nikolova, D., Nesheva, D., Koprinarova, M., & Maslyankov, S. et al. (2015). Epigenetic alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Balkan Journal Of Medical Genetics, 18(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bjmg-2015-0081