Epigenetics (Effects of Environmental Conditions on Genes)

EPIGENETICS (THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON OUR GENES)

It is a science that examines changes in gene expression that are not hereditary but are also hereditary.

The epigenetic state changes and is reversible with environmental influences such as environmental conditions, nutrition, stress, chemical and radiation exposure.

Although it is not clear exactly how epigenetic changes occur, a lower degree of methylation has been discovered in insulin-related genes (the insulin-like growth factor II gene) compared to non-hunger siblings of people who are starving in the uterus (Heijmans et al., 2008). . This has some surprising consequences: although epigenetic changes are reversible in theory, some modifications that play a role in beneficial changes throughout embryonic development continue in adulthood and may be more harmful than beneficial. Some of these changes are sustainable for generations and may even affect grandchildren of exposed women (Painter et al., 2008).

From a human health perspective, there are some diseases of epigenetic origin. Various diseases and syndromes have abnormal DNA methylation or stigmatized gene regions leading to various pathologies. These include Silver-Russell syndrome, Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome, Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes with growth retardation and body asymmetry (Mann and Bartolomei 1999, Temple 2007).

Our nutrition affects our health as well as our children and even our grandchildren.

More and more information is emerging about epigenetics. For us and the next generations to be healthier, we should choose a more natural way of life. We can inherit healthier genes by avoiding chemicals and contamination, sports, natural organic nutrition instead of pesticides and GMO foods