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Saturday, January 6, 2018

The Definition And Examples Of Epigenetics

By Jason Wagner


This means being at the top of genetics. The turning on or off of certain genetics is known as epigenetics. This does not affect the DNA sequence, but it affects how it will be read. It can also be said to be the external modification of DNA and turns cells either on or off. It may live for the period a cell is still active, or it can last from childhood to adulthood. It can also be passed to the next generations at times.

It can at times alters DNA. For example, a DNA methylation may be added to a methyl cap and may cause alteration to the genetic appearance. It may lead to the suppression of some genes. This will deny some genes the opportunity to be expressed. The physical appearance of the person or animal may appear different, but the DNA structure appears to be the same.

Histone is a protein that DNA wraps itself round. This allows DNA to fit into all the cells. Without it, DNA would be very long and would not be able to fit anywhere. The DNA is also required not to wrap itself too tightly on to the histone otherwise the readability will be a challenge. There are modifications that relax the histone and make the readability easier.

The skin cells, muscle cells, and brain cells appear different in their structural formation and even functions. Yet somehow, they contain the same genetic material. These are because although they may contain the same genes, the way these genes are expressed is totally different. These are why our body parts appear to be different.

Epigenetics can be passed on to different generations, but this is not always the case. They may be in the egg cell, the sperm cell or in both. Once the egg and sperm fuse, they may undergo a process known as reprogramming. This is when all the previous genes are erased, and the fetus is formed. The fetus can then start from scratch forming its own epigenetics.

This is however not always the case. Some of this genetics are resistant to the reprogramming process. This means that that genetics is going to be passed on to the child once the egg is fertilized. This means like factors such as food ingested before the conception of the child, may actually affect the future of the child. It is however yet to be proven in human beings.

Epigenetics may actually have a role in the development of some cancers. Some of the genes kill the ability to control how big a cell grows. This means that the cell could overgrow at a very rapid rate. It may eventually stat to inhibit normal bodily functions in various body parts. It the end, it turns out to be a tumor.

Some others are known to suppress the cells responsible for repairing the damaged DNA. When these are suppressed the immune system grows weak. This is one of the ways cancer is able to inhabit the body of the person.




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