The Lessons I Learnt from Studying Epigenetics

The study of heritable changes that could occur due to different factors such as age, lifestyle, and even the environment that we live in, is what is called epigenetics. This is a study of mechanisms in the body that could switch cells into a state of “on and off. ” A rather interesting thing about epigenetics is how modifying the wrong gene or failing to add a compound could result in abnormal gene activity which leads to disorders. It leads to genetic disorders such as cancer or metabolic disorders.

In the epigenetics video, the mice being experimented are genetically identical. Upon looking at the mice you are able to tell clear differences in their physical characteristics. The brown mice are more typical-looking and the yellow mice are obese. The best reason for the differences in these mice is the gene that is named the agouti. In the brown mice, this gene is methylated while in the yellow mice it is non-methylated. As the experimenting continues, it is shown that a difference in diet for the mother could result in a different ratio of brown to yellow mice. The video shows rather promising advancements in the studies of epigenetics and displays the different and long-lasting effects changes can have on a generation whether it be with medical conditions, disorders, or psychological things.

Upon doing research and interviewing family members, type 2 Diabetes is something that has come around in my family. My grandmother suffers from this and she has it very bad. Every morning she must inject herself and for about eight years already, she has always watched her diet very carefully. If she eats too much sugar, it could be lead to something very bad, but if she does not get enough of it, it could also be bad. For this reason, it is important for her to find a balance in how she eats. As previously stated, someone in my family suffers from diabetes already. The study of epigenetics and diabetes has become something very major. “Some of these environmental hits are often shared in family groups and proved to be capable to induce epigenetic changes which alter the function of genes affecting major diabetes traits. In stating this, the article shares that many factors can change and result in diabetes traits that could become stronger and as a result lead to someone suffering from diabetes in its strongest forms.

As studies have progressed, scientists have learned how they could make the prediction of type 2 Diabetes much more possible. “Epigenotypes can be recognized in easily accessible white cells from peripheral blood”, indicating that epigenetic profiling may allow them to predict diabetes on a certain person. This article provides an insightful explanation on how some parents’ exposure to environmental hits known to cause epigenetic changes can be generationally transmitted. In reading this article, I found it important to make sure I continue to watch my diet and the way I live because numerous factors, without me even knowing, could trigger a diabetic trait in my body to become active. It is crucial to understand and beware of the environmental factors that trigger these changes in our human bodies. In addition, my grandfather suffered from congestive heart failure but doctors related that to a heart attack he suffered from many years ago. As time passed, my grandfather suffered from the heart failure and that resulted in numerous health issues.

My family history shows that these changes could carry on to our future generations. From now, it is crucial and important that all members of my family decide to live a healthy and safe lifestyle that will allow them to pass on genetic traits that relay healthy traits. As seen in the epigenetic video, changes in something such as a diet could result in healthier offspring. Whether it be the father or mother of anyone in our family, it is important to remain both physically and emotionally healthy. Different emotional factors could be carried on and trigger changes in a gene for a child. As we know, epigenetics allows us to understand that some genes are silenced for good when a cell has no access to it. That is an explanation as to why a set of twins, even if identical both physically and genetically, can develop different traits or disorders. By understanding this, it is also clear to understand that the factors which we live around can quickly trigger a gene to once again give cells access and could result in a disorder or disease coming up without any previous history of anything. Epigenetics is everywhere and that is clear to see. My family has never really had any medical history until both my grandparents began to suffer from different medical conditions. As for my parents, aunt, uncles and cousins, everyone is healthy. That is an example of how possibly, the lifestyle which both of my grandparents lived could have caused a change in their body to trigger a gene that was completely silenced to become active and cause a negative effect to their health. Throughout my time doing research, as I did the questionnaire, numerous questions stood out to me. Different questions such as how I managed my stress, how I feel about my aging, how much sleep I get and the things I do helped me come to a realization that far too often we undervalue our own health. Our health includes our emotional and physical wellbeing which does not always have an immediate effect on us, but could definitely bring problems to us in our future. A major question that stood out to me was “ How is the air pollution where you live?’

This question allowed me to take into consideration how the effects of our environment take a toll on us without us even noticing. Although there are no problems with air pollution where I live, I have come across areas with poor air quality and immediately, I am able to feel the difference. Also, the question of “ Do you regularly screen for cancer?” alerted me of the fact that I need to put more time into checking with doctors and professionals on ways that I could better my own health and habits I could get out of or get into. On a positive note, I did find that I have been able to handle stress well and that I feel good about how I aging. In addition, I do exercise and find myself eating a good balance of different foods that allow me to satisfy my body and take care of myself. It was important for me to answer these questions honestly because by doings so, I was able to comprehend how my life and ways of living are truly allowing me to feel. As a result of the test, I am expected to live 89 years of life. In many ways, I find that to be very great. Although there are some negatives that the questionnaire brought to light, I was able to understand where I stand mentally and physically with myself. This test showed me to value numerous factors in my life that play a role in my health overall and could possibly permit me to have a better chance of healthy children along with my partner.

The understanding of epigenetics, my findings in the questionnaire and also my family history helped me gain an understanding of how I could possibly better my overall health and live a longer life. As I have gained an understanding for epigenetics and how factors around me could either negatively or positively affect me, it has helped me learn the importance of self-care. I must continue to make sure I stay active and take part in different activities that challenge my body. I must also stay around a group of positive, happy people and continue to interact and do things that involve people. In terms of dieting, I must continue to have a good balance of different foods. It is imperative that I begin to have an intake of different vitamins that could help my body in many ways. Far too often, people forget that vitamins can make you stronger and more immune to things that could have a negative effect on your health.

As I look at my family history, it is crucial that I continue to stay away from smoking, too much alcohol and that I continue to visit the doctor to avoid any medical conditions or disorders. It is important to ask my doctors on how to maintain good and healthy cholesterol, watch my blood pressure, and be aware of any symptoms that could lead to anything life-threatening. In addition, I find it important to remain aware of one’s hygiene. A lot of people fail to go to the dentist regularly as many mouth diseases are at high rates in our world. It is important to do little things like floss and whiten your teeth.

In conclusion, I must continue to be aware of my state of health both physically and emotionally especially after learning that the life I live could affect the future generations of my family. It is important to understand our health, family’s health and the effects of how we live.