Epigenetics

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Epigenetics Changes in gene function that are
heritable but do not change the DNA
sequence. What does this mean?
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Gene Expression Identical twins have identical
genesbut their epigenes are different and
accumulate more differences as they age
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• Gene Expression
• Benefits of Epigentic Therapy
• May be able to reactivate genes
• Chances for side effects are low
• Success rate is high
• Drawbacks of Epigenetic Therapy
• easy to change the epigenome of the individual
  adversely (and that of future children)

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• Gene Expression
• Methyl groups
• tell cells their function (skin, heart)
• can turn a gene on or off
• can bind to histones and tighten/loosen the DNA
• a methyl tag is on gene
• eating methyl causes methylation
• methylated genes can be passed to offspring (but
  they can be changed back)

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DNA Methylation and Cancer Hypomethylation
is decreased genome methylation occurs early
in carcinogenesis (aka cancer)
Hypermethylation Tumor Suppressor genes
are hypermethylated in human cancer
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