A Brief Explanation

 Epigenetics is the study of the process to turn on or off genes. This study is involved in the research associated with cancer and other diseases and the factors, both inside and outside the body, that influence the reactions of genes. These genes also can affect the way we think and act, depending on if they are methylated(turned off) or not. Each cell is reading off the set of hereditary instructions from its DNA, but not every cell performs the same purpose. How does each know what to do? Well scientist have discovered a second layer of hereditary information embedded in the histone that neatly organizes DNA. This is called an epigenome. Every person has one genome, but many epigenomes that are responsible for contolling when and what genes are accessable to turn on or off. Scientists are hoping this study can someday lead to a cure for many genetic disorders and diseases. (Citation-9)

Mechanisms 

Scientists have identified a few of the mechanism that occur in the epigenetic process(Citation 10). As seen above, the "5th Base" is used in the methylation mechanism. The others include:  acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and sumolyation. If these mechanisms occur with an error, many health problems may follow because of the mistake in the transcription of the DNA (Citation 10)However the most important of these is methylation: the addition or removal of a methyl group (CH3), predominantly where cytosine bases occur consecutively(Citation 10). 

Histones :

proteins that are involved in neatly organizing DNA

The modifications that occur(methylation,acetylation,phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, and sumolyation) alter "chromatin structure to influence gene expression. In general, tightly folded chromatin tends to be shut down, or not expressed, while more open chromatin is functional, or expressed (Citation 10)." Genes are also silenced because of Histone Deacetylation, or when chromatin regulator proteins cause the DNA to be wrapped so tightly around a histone, that they become permenantly silenced (Citation- 9).

Summary: In this video " The Epigenome at a Glance" you will learn about how the epigenome affects a cell and how the DNA is read. ("Citation-The Epigenome at a Glance")

The 5th and 6th Bases 

The 5th and 6th bases have been something that many scientist have never known much about until recently. These are bases much like the other DNA bases (cytosine, guanine, thymine, and adenosine), but with the more complicated names of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (Citation- 8). The 5th and 6th bases have never been looked at before until the recent discovery of them acting as methylator. They sometimes replace the nucleotide, cytosine, in the make-up and transcription of DNA (Citation-8).

 

 

How are scientists planning on using this? 

In the new research of today. Scientist have discovered that genes can be turned on and off with the perfection of the process of methylation. Instead of trying to change a gene sequence, scientist may be able to pick and choose what genes they want to turn on.

 The History of Epiogenetics

 

 This website is a compilation of information derived from numerous educational, news, and technological websites. All information is cited.


Make a Free Website with Yola.