Current Researches And Development In The Area Of Epigenetics

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is a developing field of study involving an emphasis on how gene expression can be modified based on responses from DNA. These changes are inherited; however, this is not due to a modification in the actual gene sequence. This multifaceted area of study includes research from chromatin biology, histone modification, and DNA methylation to understand how gene expression is altered. These modifications in individuals can change the health issues to which they are susceptible in comparison to people in their shared environment and/or ethnicity. The gene expressions for an individual can undergo modification before birth due to the environment of the parents. This shows that gene expression can not only change due to the lifestyle and environment of an individual, but also from their parent’s circumstances.

Current research takes multiple routes to study epigenetics due to the various components, allowing for alteration in gene expression. One area of focus is DNA methylation because gene expression changes due to the clustering of methyl groups around certain genes. In recent studies, researchers have found how certain nutrients may cause inhibition in the process of DNA methylation. This can allow for the control of certain diseases, cancer and diabetes if methyl groups are formed in the proper place. In addition, lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol, smoking, stress and physical environment can have a culminating effect, with nutritional choices, allowing for changes in epigenetic patterns. The relationship between epigenetics and nutrition is close due to nutrients and bioactive food components altering the ability of certain genes to be transcribed, due to DNA methylation. Nutrients such as folate and vitamin B-12 affect DNA methylation due to the alteration of 1-carbon metabolism. These two nutrients are considered highly important among nutritionists due to their vital roles in the human body. Folate plays an important role during pregnancy because a deficiency in this nutrient can lead to neural tube defect. In addition, folate also carries a methyl group, which allows for a modification in the gene expression. This shows how proper nutrient intake from parents also can influence an individual’s expressed genes. Nutrition also plays a strong role because some of the diseases that are deemed preventable if epigenetics can be better understood are the main areas of focus for nutritionists.

Another study regarding epigenetics and nutrition involves looking at controlling aging. This study looks more specifically to use a nutrigenomics standpoint which involves the influence of dietary choices and metabolism. Risk for diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular disease are greatly influenced by these components of nutrigenomics. Epigenetic mechanisms can be influenced due to nutrient availability. The distribution of these nutrients is based on calorie restriction and polyphenols. Metabolism plays an important role in this context because of the heavy link with aging. If metabolism can be controlled and modified through proper diet intake, then epigenetic mechanisms can be changed in the favor of people. This will allow for chronic diseases to be lessened in prevalence, allowing for increased life expectancy. In addition, offspring can benefit from the proper control of their parent’s epigenetic status, since these are also passed along with genes.

The relationship between epigenetics and chronic diseases is very interesting from a public health viewpoint. Developed countries would immediately benefit from a greater understanding of epigenetic control. In developed countries, individuals have more control over their environment, exercise and diet dependent upon socioeconomic status. They have better access to health resources and better access to nutritionally healthy foods. Moreover, chronic diseases play a huge role in the death of individuals in these countries, which means many people would be able to take advantage immediately upon conclusive research in epigenetics. This would not be the case in developing countries, where individuals do not have the time to monitor their health as closely. Individuals have a higher level of stress in these countries, which also would play a negative effect upon epigenetic control. In addition, an inadequacy of nutrient variety foods, high poverty, limited technology and high amount of environment pollutants would make it difficult to implement a plan for epigenetic control. Once sufficient data can be collected on predicting epigenetic control. Mathematics can be used to create algorithms and regression models to predict how to best change an individual’s gene expression. Until a complete understanding can take place on the effect of each variable on epigenetic control, a complete model cannot be built. Rigorous testing needs to take place for sufficient data collection to create and train models.

A study done by Hahn et al. takes advantage of regression modeling to study epigenetic reprogramming of lipid metabolism. In this study data used for dietary restrictions is used to understand the age-related DNA methylation. Studies such as this can be used to study other variables believed to influence epigenetic status. Once a robust model has been created the benefits of the information can be provided to individuals all around the world. The information regarding the model can also include ancestry data to predict epigenetic control.

Personally, I think have been affected by my ancestor’s environment for two main reasons. My ancestry goes back to the subcontinent of India, which has been a relatively poor country until the past two decades. The access to food was limited to what could be grown in the country. The countries poverty rate was also a lot higher in the past, which would mean there is a higher probability my ancestors were a part of this group. This would mean not having time to take proper care of their body and high stress. The variable of stress also would be increased due to colonialism. Britain having control over India caused high levels of stress on my ancestors. This stress would take a very heavy toll on the epigenetic mechanisms, which determine gene expression. These influences could very well be felt to this day due to the passing of epigenetic information from generation to generation.

Overall, epigenetics is a vital area of study which can help people in various fields of study such as nutritionists, epidemiologists and public health experts to provide advice. The information learned through epigenetics can also be used to help control chronic diseases, which has many facets. Nutritionists can better develop diet plans; public health experts can formulate better policy to reduce prevalence of diseases and epidemiologists can better understand the origins of a disease. Epigenetics still requires rigorous research to understand how different variables effect epigenetic control and for the development of robust models. These models will allow for the easy use of epigenetic information for subject area experts due to the speed of dispersal of information through the internet. This will allow the information to be accessible so that people can work on improvements in other areas such as the environment, lifestyle choices and diet choices as needed.