Epigenetics
Epigenetics is a field of biology that studies how external factors can influence gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. This intricate layer of genetic control operates through mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-associated silencing. These processes can turn genes on or off, affecting how cells read genes. Epigenetic changes are crucial for normal development and cellular differentiation and they also play an important role in various diseases, including cancer, mental disorders, and autoimmune diseases. While some epigenetic modifications are stable and heritable, others are dynamic and responsive to environmental changes, underscoring the complex interplay between our genome and the environment. The reversibility of epigenetic changes also opens up potential therapeutic avenues, making epigenetics a key area of interest in medical research and drug development.
Epigenetics
Latest Posts
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epidecodeR Revolutionizing Analysis of Epigenomic Data
Scientists have made significant strides in understanding the interplay between genetics and environment in disease through studying epigenetic marks, which are crucial in gene regulation. The development of epidecodeR, a tool for analyzing these marks, has opened…
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Using Epigenetic Factors UCLA Cancer Researchers Develop AI Model to Predict Patient Outcomes in Multiple Cancer Types
Researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center developed an AI model that predicts patient outcomes in various cancer types using epigenetic factors (epifactors). This model categorizes cancers into distinct groups based on the gene expression patterns of…
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New targeted epigenetic therapy for lymphoma shows promise
New compounds targeting epigenetics have shown promise in treating patients with lymphoma, according to data presented at the Targeted Anticancer Therapies International Congress 2018 in Paris, France. ESMO’s phase-I oncology meeting featured early clinical studies with BET…
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The role of PRC2 in controlling gene activity in human stem cells.
Researchers at the Babraham Institute have revealed a new understanding of the molecular switches that control gene activity in human embryonic stem cells. In the developing embryo and during the specialisation of stem cells, the activity of…
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National Institutes of Health to expand ENCODE project
The National Institutes of Health plans to expand its Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project, a genomics resource used by many scientists to study human health and disease. Funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI),…
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Similar epigenetic mark found in brain cells of different types of autism disorder
UCLA scientists and their colleagues have found evidence that an abnormal pattern of brain cells is common in people with different types of autism disorders. The abnormal pattern discovered in the study, reported in journal Cell, concerns…
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Vitamins A and Vitamin C help erase epigenetic memory held by cells
Vitamins A and C aren’t just good for your health, they affect your DNA too. Researchers at the Babraham Institute and their international collaborators have discovered how vitamins A and C act to modify the epigenetic ‘memory’…
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