DNA has long been considered the roadmap to our destiny, the final determinant in our disease risk and longevity. We are told repeatedly that our health is inherited, that our life is already determined by our father and mother’s DNA. While the DNA provides a template, it is not the final arbiter over our health. … Continue reading Sperm from malnourished males transmits information that negatively affects the genetic expression of their offspring
Insight Into the Inheritance of Epigenetic Marks
An individual’s DNA contains the sequence of nucleotide bases that provide instructions for how every cell in their body is to develop and differentiate. When DNA is read, its instructions are followed to guide the development of cells, allowing genes to be “expressed”. Scientists are actively working to map out the cellular signaling pathways that determine … Continue reading Insight Into the Inheritance of Epigenetic Marks
Vitamin D Adjusts Epigenetic Marks That Could Hinder A Baby’s Health
Even though it’s common for expectant mothers to have low vitamin D levels, it’s essential to the health and proper development of the baby. A low amount of vitamin D is associated with poor fetal growth, childhood obesity, bone density, and bone mineral content. Interestingly, key functions of the placenta – like transporting nutrients to the growing … Continue reading Vitamin D Adjusts Epigenetic Marks That Could Hinder A Baby’s Health
Histone Modifications and Epigenetic Regulation Could Hold the Key to Reversing Aging
Epigenetics has numerous connections to the process of aging, research hinting at the association between longevity and factors such as transcriptome length and DNA methylation patterns. Clearly, understanding the molecular controls of aging proves to be an intriguing endeavor as we try to interpret the clues of how we might slow down and perhaps even reverse aging. … Continue reading Histone Modifications and Epigenetic Regulation Could Hold the Key to Reversing Aging
Accurately Telling the Age of Human Tissues and Cells by DNA Methylation Clock
External signs of the human body’s age can be given by wrinkles and graying hair. However, these signs may not be accurate to tell the age of human tissues and cells that construct your body. Geneticist and biomathematician Steve Horvath at the University of California Los Angeles has developed a multi-tissue predictor of age that enables … Continue reading Accurately Telling the Age of Human Tissues and Cells by DNA Methylation Clock
Inheritance and Transmission of Epigenetic Memory Across Generations
New research has been suggesting that parents can transmit changes to their gene expression to their children. The heritable changes occur as a result of environmental stresses and are known as epigenetic modifications. A previous article covered the epigenetic transfer of nutrition “memory” across several generations. Now, a recent study by researchers from the University of California in Santa … Continue reading Inheritance and Transmission of Epigenetic Memory Across Generations
Could Stressed Fathers Epigenetically Give their Children High Blood Sugar?
What if stress experienced by fathers could actually be passed down epigenetically to their children, who then experience its effects later in life? Previous research has hinted that, in mice, trauma experienced by a father leaves epigenetic marks on his sperm RNA, which is inherited by his offspring who later express the same depressive behaviors as … Continue reading Could Stressed Fathers Epigenetically Give their Children High Blood Sugar?
Beyond genetics: children’s health encoded into them by their parent’s decisions long before conception
Parents' life experiences and dietary habits before conception are encoded into egg and sperm and projected into the very existence of their child, influencing the child's habits, health and ability to adapt later in life. Parenting essentially begins before conception, according to new research coming from the University of Adelaide. The lifestyle choices of the … Continue reading Beyond genetics: children’s health encoded into them by their parent’s decisions long before conception
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 