Epigenetics

Through movement, nutrition, mental practices, and the spaces we inhabit, we can shape some of the inputs and conditions to which our bodies respond.

By choosing a sustainable lifestyle, we support better health, faster recovery, and improved quality of life.

What is EPIGENETICS

The term comes from the Greek prefix “epi,” meaning “on top of” or “above” genetics. It refers to changes in gene expression, both in shape and function, that occur in a biologic organism without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

"Environmental influences such as diet, stress and pollutants, can affect these marks, changing how actively genes are expressed"*

In simple words: Epigenetics turns genes "on" and "off" depending on our lifestyle, eating habits, and the environmental conditions.

*extracted from: Environmental Influences on the Epigenome: a Scoping Report. Project Leader: Katherine Pelch, PhD - U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of Health Assessment and Translation.

How does it work in practice

There is a constant interaction between the external and internal environments, where epigenetic switches are required for normal development and health maintenance, seasonal adaptations as well as resistance to diseases.

For example, exposure to pharmaceutical and chemicals, diet, stress, exercise, and other environmental factors are capable of eliciting positive or negative epigenetic modifications with lasting effects on development, metabolism and health.

These can impact the body so profoundly as to permanently alter the epigenetic profile of an individual.*

*from Kanherkar RR, Bhatia-Dey N and Csoka AB (2014) Epigenetics across the human lifespan. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 2:49. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2014.00049

The Science behind it

Gene expression refers to the process of making proteins using the instructions from genes. A person's DNA includes many genes. Each gene includes instructions for making proteins.

While changes to the genes (mutations) can change the protein that is made, epigenetic changes affect gene expression to turn genes "on" and "off." This can mean that genes make proteins in cells and tissues where or when they normally would not, or that genes don't make proteins where and when they normally would. It can also mean that genes make more or less of a protein than they normally would.

The changes in gene expression are often heritable from one cell to their successors, meaning they can be passed on to daughter cells during cell division (mitosis) or across generations (meiosis). Epigenetic mechanisms act as a regulatory layer that influences how genes are turned on or off, thereby affecting an organism’s phenotype.

Key aspects include:

Mechanisms: Epigenetic processes involve chemical modifications to DNA and DNA-binding proteins, such as histones, which help regulate chromatin structure and gene expression.

Environmental Influence: Behaviors, diet, physical activity, and environmental factors can cause epigenetic changes that affect how genes function.

Reversibility: Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic changes are often reversible.

Health and Disease: These mechanisms play a critical role in development, aging, and the onset of various diseases, including cancer.

Epigenetics essentially bridges the gap between our genetic code and our environment, showing how external factors can influence our biology at the molecular level.

A simple and very clear explanation can be read on the U.S. CDC site https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/epigenetics/index.html

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For those who like to investigate and learn more

Sources and references used in this page

ScienceDirec,t In subject area: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/epigenetic-mechanism
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Kanherkar RR, Bhatia-Dey N and Csoka AB (2014) Epigenetics across the human lifespan. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2014.00049 https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2014.00049/full
ACCSCIENCE Publishing, Epigenetics: Definition, Mechanisms. Journal: INNOSC Theranostics and Pharmacological Science 2024

There is a large quantity of research articles, scientific reports and academic publications about this topic.

It is also easy to ask any AI tool for "why is EPIGENETICS important for me, and how can I use it to live better"

If you like to read and can navigate academic papers, try Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_sdt=0,5&q=epigenetics