Fall 7

 I had to write a paper for my English 102 class, explaining a concept, so I chose epigenetics to give me a start on my STEM research project. I found it difficult to keep it "short and sweet"  because there are so many interesting things to cover. At the start I had no idea what it was or how it worked. After doing this research I feel even more motivated by some resent lifestyle changes I had made. After being a smoker for 26 years, I finally quit last year. I recently swapped to a vegan diet (most days), and started exercising again. I knew I would be healthier for it, but had no idea it could impact gene expression. Here is the paper if you are interested. I haven't covered this in a class yet, so I hope it is correct:

James Head

Professor John

English 102

08 Oct. 2021

Epigenetics: How to look better, feel better, and stay healthy.

Within almost every cell of our bodies there are molecules called “genes”, which contain the instructions on how to build new cells for our body. They tell the body what type of cell to build (skin, hair, muscle, bone, immune system, blood, etc.), and special characteristics of those cells. Multiple cells combine to make up a phenotype, which are our observable characteristics like eye color. Attached to our genes are individual proteins and chemical markers, collectively called the epigenome, that determine a cell’s overall characteristics or how it is “expressed.” Epigenetics refers to the chemicals and processes that affect the individual parts of the epigenome.

Imagine having multiple lights in a classroom, each a different color, controlled by individual switches on the wall. Just because the lights are there, does not mean they are on all the time. Switches can be used to turn the lights on, off, or in the case of a dimmer switch, somewhere in between. Outside influences, in this case a person, can change the position of those switches, which determines what the lights do and how the room looks. If we stand outside and observe the lights coming through the windows of every classroom, the building will have a unique appearance. Notice that we were able to change how the entire building looked without changing a single bulb, but by simply turning the switches on and off. Likewise, genes can also be turned on, off, or fall somewhere in the middle. Compared with our example, outside factors (the person) would be things like physical activity. The creation and manipulation of special proteins and chemical markers (moving the switch) is called epigenetics. The overall on/off state of all our genes in one cell (position of all the switches in the room) is called epigenomics. Gene expression (how the room looks with lights on or off), refers to the type of cell made and how it functions. The combined characteristics of multiple cells, like having red hair (how the building looks as a whole), is our phenome. All of this is done without changing the genetic code itself, without “changing the lightbulb.” This is important because, despite what good or bad genes you are born with, their state is what mostly determines your health.

This realization “has shed light on how Nature and Nurture interact at the molecular level inside of our bodies” (Moore), revealing how our environment changes who we are. If genes are the blueprints from which our bodies are built, epigenetics is the study of lifestyle factors that affect how those genes are expressed.

Through epigenetics we examine influences such as physical activity, chemical absorption, and psychological impacts on gene expression, which play a large roll in our overall health. By improving our relationship with these things, we can find ways to turn back the clock, making us look better, feel better, and stay healthy.

“The body’s epigenetic clock, which measures a person’s biological age” (Abott), can be compared with chronological age. A person who has been exposed to negative stressors may look and feel much older than they really are, due to changes in the epigenome. In contrast, a person with a supportive environment and good habits may have a healthier appearance and functionality.

Physical Activity

            Physical activity can alter the epigenome, which “ may be one of the most powerful systems through which exercise exerts its beneficial effects on health and longevity. Large epidemiology studies show that individuals who regularly exercise demonstrate a lower ‘epigenetic age,’ experience fewer metabolic diseases, and enjoy greater longevity” (Woelfel, et al.).

Although research showed some positive effects of physical activity, “the type and duration of exercise eliciting specific epigenetic effects that can result in health benefits and prevent chronic diseases remains to be determined” (Grazioli, et al.). In line with this, the amount of exertion that might cause biological harm is also unknown. The adage, “too much of a good thing is still too much”, represents the negative impact of repetitive motion and over-exertion. Finding balance is key.

Absorption

            What we absorb into our bodies impacts our gene health. For example, “diet influences the expression of genes that either enhance or deter good health and development” (Combs-Orme). For pregnant women this may be two fold, as “maternal diet regulates the epigenetic status of the early embryo” (Sun, et al.). What mom is exposed to, the child is also exposed to. Even after childbirth, there may be chemical exchanges via breastfeeding. Other than nutrition, some consumption considerations are prescription drugs, non-prescriptions drugs, and alcohol. Depending upon the type, amount consumed, and the body’s needs, these can have positive or negative impacts on cellular health.

            Another route of absorption is our skin. Harmful chemicals from unregulated skin “care” products may be absorbed though our pores. “Chronic sun exposure could lead to changes in epigenetic modifications” (Ding S., et al.), via over-absorption of UV radiation. Many external elements, “including toxins, as well as microbial and viral exposures, can change epigenetic patterns and thereby effect changes in gene activation and cell phenotype” (Barros & Offenbacher).

            Lastly, absorbing chemicals through our lungs can alter our epigenome. Cigarette smoke, for example, may introduce multiple toxins at once. The large number of chemicals absorbed from smoking can change the epigenome, drastically advancing the biological clock. We can often see evidence of this in the skin of smokers, who may appear much older than their chronological age would suggest. Smoking also may impact the epigenome of those in the vicinity. Staying away from these and other harmful chemicals can help maintain our youthfulness.

Psychological

            Epigenetics can be altered not only by physical processes, but psychological influences as well. It has been theorized that epigenetics, “might play a role in early life stress induced mental illness” (Xu, et al.). These genetic shifts may affect your physical self as well as change emotional responses to future stressors.

The psychological stressors you experience may also impact your children’s health. Research on hereditary mental illness has shown “growing evidence for at least some contribution of epigenetic regulation” (Nestler) being passed on to the fetus.

Conclusion

            Through epigenetics, we have some control over how fast out bodies age and how well they function. Simply inheriting good or bad genes does not guarantee they will be expressed. Ignoring epigenetic factors can be detrimental to both our quality and quantity of life. However, if we are mindful of our physical activity, what we allow ourselves to absorb, and our psychological health, we can positively transform the appearance and overall health of ourselves and our offspring. There are steps we can all take to help keep the lights on.

 

Works Cited

Barros, S. P., and S. Offenbacher. “Epigenetics: Connecting Environment and Genotype to Phenotype and Disease.” Journal of Dental Research, vol. 88, no. 5, May 2009, pp. 400–408, PubMed.gov, doi:10.1177/0022034509335868

Combs-Orme, Terri. “Epigenetics and the Social Work Imperative.” Social Work, vol. 58, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 23–30. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23719588.

Ding, S., et al. “Chronic sun exposure is associated with distinct histone acetylation changes in human skin.” British Journal of Dermatology, Vol: 179, no. 1, July 2018, pp. 110-117. PubMed.gov, doi:10.1111/bjd.16129.

Grazioli, Elisa, et al. "Physical activity in the prevention of human diseases: role of epigenetic modifications." BMC Genomics, vol. 18, suppl. 8 802, 14 Nov. 2017. PubMed.gov, doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4193-5

Moore, David. “Behavioral epigenetics.” WIREs Systems Biology and Medicine, vol: 9, Issue 1, 09 Jan. 2017. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews, doi:10.1002/wsbm.1333.

Sun, Congshan, et al. "Epigenetic regulation of histone modifications and Gata6 gene expression induced by maternal diet in mouse embryoid bodies in a model of developmental programming." BMC Developmental Biology, vol. 15, no. 3, 21 Jan. 2015. PubMed.gov, doi:10.1186/s12861-015-0053-1.

Woelfel, Jessica R., et al. "Precision Physical Therapy: Exercise, the Epigenome, and the Heritability of Environmentally Modified Traits." Physical Therapy, vol. 98, no. 11, 01 Nov. 2018, pp. 946-952. PubMed.gov, doi:10.1093/ptj/pzy092.

 Xu, Qiuyue. et al. “Early Life Stress Induced DNA Methylation of Monoamine Oxidases Leads to Depressive-like Behavior.” Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Vol. 8, 08 Sept. 2020. PubMed.gov, doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.582247.