The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

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Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Why the Federal Environment Agency wants to know more about it
Origin of epigenetics
Known factors
UBA’s objectives
Epigenetics and Child Development: How Children’s Experiences Affect Their Genes
More Information on Epigenetics
Correcting Popular Misrepresentations of Science
Full Text of the Graphic
Epigenetics explains how early experiences can have lifelong impacts.
Young brains are particularly sensitive to epigenetic changes.
What is the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change?
What is the study of the effect of environment on gene expression?
What is the study between genes and environment called?
Which is an environmental factor that can cause a change in the DNA of an organism?

The Federal Environment Agency has initiated a research project in the field of epigenetics. Epigenetics explains the influence of environmental factors on the properties of cells and gene expression. Extensive research in this field would do a great deal to protect public health, both now and in future generations.

07.11.2017

Why the Federal Environment Agency wants to know more about it

Origin of epigenetics

Epigenetics is a Greek term, which in literal translation means ‘in addition to genetics’. Epigenetics is a field in biology which focuses on inherited changes in the gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence. It seeks to explain how environmental exposures can modify gene expression and influence cell properties. Extensive research in this field would contribute to the protection of public health, now and for the sake of future generations.

Genetics focuses on the genetic material DNA and the inheritance of genetic characteristics. Epigenetics on the other hand provides additional information that determines gene expression.

This additional information – the epigenetic marks - can be seen as a second code overlaid on top of the DNA sequence code. They consist e.g. of chemical molecules attached to either the DNA itself or to DNA-binding proteins.

Epigenetic marks may, for example, silence certain DNA sequences. All epigenetic marks together are called the epigenetic pattern. As the DNA itself, epigenetic information can also be heritable to succeeding generations.

Epigenetics refutes thus the notion that environmental influences cannot exert long-term changes on the genome.

Known factors

Mankind is exposed to a large number of environmental influences which have an impact on epigenetic mechanisms. Benzene or endocrine disruptors such as Bisphenol A, can alter the epigenetic pattern. These defective marks can have a negative impact on human health and, as a result, the risk of cancer and congenital birth defects may increase. Epigenetic changes may also multiply over time and, in concert, trigger diseases.

UBA’s objectives

Research on epigenetic mechanisms is still in its infancy. The importance accorded by the Federal Environment Agency to this relatively new field in biology is due to its concern with protecting public health. Both positive and negative environmental factors can exert a lasting effect on health, which is why it is critical to determine which factors cause epigenetic changes. In this regard Federal Environment Agency is encouraging extensive research in this complex area:

Interdisciplinary collaboration,
Establishment of a network on environment and epigenetics,
Prospective studies, and
Basic research in the field of epigenetics.

Pdfs

Bisphenol A
Epigenetik / Bisphenol A
Epigenetik – Das molekulare Gedächtnis für Umwelteinflüsse
Epigenetik / Epigenetik – Das molekulare Gedächtnis für Umwelteinflüsse

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Epigenetics and Child Development: How Children’s Experiences Affect Their Genes

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For more information about epigenetics, please scroll down below the infographic.

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New scientific research shows that environmental influences can actually affect whether and how genes are expressed. In fact, scientists have discovered that early experiences can determine how genes are turned on and off and even whether some are expressed at all. Thus, the old ideas that genes are “set in stone” or that they alone determine development have been disproven. Nature vs. Nurture is no longer a debate—it’s nearly always both!

More Information on Epigenetics
Deep Dive: Gene-Environment Interaction
Learn more about the physical and chemical processes that take place as part of the creation of the epigenome.
Working Paper 10: Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development
This in-depth working paper explains how genes and the environment interact, and gives recommendations for ways that caregivers and policymakers can effectively respond to the science.

During development, the DNA that makes up our genes accumulates chemical marks that determine how much or little of the genes is expressed. This collection of chemical marks is known as the “epigenome.” The different experiences children have rearrange those chemical marks. This explains why genetically identical twins can exhibit different behaviors, skills, health, and achievement.

Correcting Popular Misrepresentations of Science

Until recently, the influences of genes were thought to be set, and the effects of children’s experiences and environments on brain architecture and long-term physical and mental health outcomes remained a mystery. That lack of understanding led to several misleading conclusions about the degree to which negative and positive environmental factors and experiences can affect the developing fetus and young child. The following misconceptions are particularly important to set straight.

Contrary to popular belief, the genes inherited from one’s parents do not set a child’s future development in stone.
Variations in DNA sequences between individuals certainly influence the way in which genes are expressed and how the proteins encoded by those genes will function. But that is only part of the story—the environment in which one develops, before and soon after birth, provides powerful experiences that chemically modify certain genes which, in turn, define how much and when they are expressed. Thus, while genetic factors exert potent influences, environmental factors have the ability to alter the genes that were inherited.
Although frequently misunderstood, adverse fetal and early childhood experiences can—and do—lead to physical and chemical changes in the brain that can last a lifetime.
Injurious experiences, such as malnutrition, exposure to chemical toxins or drugs, and toxic stress before birth or in early childhood are not “forgotten,” but rather are built into the architecture of the developing brain through the epigenome. The “biological memories” associated with these epigenetic changes can affect multiple organ systems and increase the risk not only for poor physical and mental health outcomes but also for impairments in future learning capacity and behavior.
Despite some marketing claims to the contrary, the ability of so-called enrichment programs to enhance otherwise healthy brain development is not known.
While parents and policymakers might hope that playing Mozart recordings to newborns will produce epigenetic changes that enhance cognitive development, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that such exposure will shape the epigenome or enhance brain function. What research has shown is that specific epigenetic modifications do occur in brain cells as cognitive skills like learning and memory develop, and that repeated activation of brain circuits dedicated to learning and memory through interaction with the environment, such as reciprocal “serve and return” interaction with adults, facilitates these positive epigenetic modifications. We also know that sound maternal and fetal nutrition, combined with positive social-emotional support of children through their family and community environments, will reduce the likelihood of negative epigenetic modifications that increase the risk of later physical and mental health impairments.

The epigenome can be affected by positive experiences, such as supportive relationships and opportunities for learning, or negative influences, such as environmental toxins or stressful life circumstances, which leave a unique epigenetic “signature” on the genes. These signatures can be temporary or permanent and both types affect how easily the genes are switched on or off. Recent research demonstrates that there may be ways to reverse certain negative changes and restore healthy functioning, but that takes a lot more effort, may not be successful at changing all aspects of the signatures, and is costly. Thus, the very best strategy is to support responsive relationships and reduce stress to build strong brains from the beginning, helping children grow up to be healthy, productive members of society.

For more information: Early Experiences Can Alter Gene Expression and Affect Long-Term Development: Working Paper No. 10.

Full Text of the Graphic

“Epigenetics” is an emerging area of scientific research that shows how environmental influences—children’s experiences—actually affect the expression of their genes.

This means the old idea that genes are “set in stone” has been disproven. Nature vs. Nurture is no longer a debate. It’s nearly always both!

Epigenetics explains how early experiences can have lifelong impacts.

The genes children inherit from their biological parents provide information that guides their development. For example, how tall they could eventually become or the kind of temperament they could have.

When experiences during development rearrange the epigenetic marks that govern gene expression, they can change whether and how genes release the information they carry.

Thus, the epigenome can be affected by positive experiences, such as supportive relationships and opportunities for learning, or negative influences, such as environmental toxins or
stressful life circumstances, which leave a unique epigenetic “signature” on the genes. These signatures can be temporary or permanent and both types affect how easily the genes are switched on or off. Recent research demonstrates that there may be ways to reverse certain negative changes and restore healthy functioning. But the very best strategy is to support responsive relationships and reduce stress to build strong brains from the beginning.

Young brains are particularly sensitive to epigenetic changes.

Experiences very early in life, when the brain is developing most rapidly, cause epigenetic adaptations that influence whether, when, and how genes release their instructions for building future capacity for health, skills, and resilience. That’s why it’s crucial to provide supportive and nurturing experiences for young children in the earliest years.

Services such as high-quality health care for all pregnant women, infants, and toddlers, as well as support for new parents and caregivers can—quite literally— affect the chemistry around children’s genes. Supportive relationships and rich learning experiences generate positive epigenetic signatures that activate genetic potential.

What is the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change?

Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence.

What is the study of the effect of environment on gene expression?

Epigenetics serves as a link between the environment and gene expression. Epigenetics refers to a set of reversible heritable changes that occur without a change in DNA sequence.