IDENTICAL TWINS: PINPOINTING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE EPIGENOME
1. Often, the physical characteristics of genetically identical twins become increasingly different as they age, even at the molecular level. Explain why this is so. (use the terms "environment" and "epigenome")The epigenome of the twins change as they are subjected to different environments as they age
2. Name 3-4 environmental factors that influence the epigenome.
Diet, physical activity levels, exposure to toxins, and stress all effect the epigenome.
3. What is an imprinted gene?
An imprinted gene is an epigenetic tag that is left behind after all of the epigenetic tags are erased that is passed on from a parent.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOUR EPIGENOME
1. Discuss factors in your daily life (ie. Diet, exercise, stress etc.) that could be affecting your epigenome. Some factors un my daily life that effect my epigenome, are my physical activity level, which is not very high and my diet.
LICK YOUR RATS
1. Explain how a high-nurturing mother rat shapes her pup's epigenome, and what that pup's response to stress will be.
The more a mother rat nurtures her pup, the more the epigenetic tags are switched to have the GR gene read more. The more the GR gene is read, the faster the pup will relax after stress. This will continue throughout the life of the rat.
2. In rats, does licking by the mother activate, or deactivate her pup's GR gene?
Licking activates the GR protein
3. Explain how cortisol and the GR protein work together in the brain to relax a rat pup. You may draw a diagram. In the "fight of flight" response, cortisol is bound to the GR protein. Rats with a higher amount of the GR protein will calm down quicker after stress.
4. The rat nurturing example shows us how parental behavior can shape the behavior of their offspring on a biochemical level. Relate this to humans and think about the personal and social implications. Record your thoughts. In humans, our parents have a large impact on us. We are raised in the way that they determine. They help us socially and personally in their own ways, which will shape us for later in life
NUTRITION & THE EPIGENOME
1. Explain how the food we eat affects gene expression. A methyl deficient diet leads to a decrease in DNA methylation.
2. Can the diets of parents affect their offspring's epigenome?
Yes, the diet effects the offspring, especially while the offspring is in the womb
EPIGENETICS & THE HUMAN BRAIN
1. How does Dietary methyl influence gene expression? Methylation differences effect the mental health phenotype. In the case of the study, suicide.
2. Why do Toxins affect gene methylation?
Drugs such as cocaine trigger epigenetic changes in certain brain regions, affecting many genes at a time. Some changes remain after the drug has been cleared. Some of the effects of drug abuse and addiction may be written in epigenetic code.
