Epigenetic

DNA, also called the genetic code, is living emerging in the form of gene expression of systems has metabolic properties and these properties and hereditary transfer to new generations It provides. Some on the genetic code modifications of natural metabolic processes occurs as a result of living metabolism it should function in a healthy way. It's natural thanks to modifications and their control cell type, cell status and stage of development depending on the effects in which regions of DNA with the gene expression of the code (transcription and translation) determined to be converted into proteins. Epigenetics, various factors It is the formation of different genetic variations with its effect. These epigenetic modifications are also inherited and features during cell division. can also be transferred to newly formed cells

Epigenetic modifications can occur in response to the environmental stimulus. The most important of these is nutrition. Although the mechanisms by which nutrition affects epigenetics are not understood, some examples are well known.

Epigenetic, which is more dynamic than our genetics; It is also directly affected by environmental factors such as stress, diet and smoking. It is also transmitted inherited, so what you do now affects future generations.

There are more than 250 different types of cells in our body. Although they all contain the same DNA structures in the same order, liver or nerve cells look very different and have different functions. It is the process called epigenetics that makes the difference. Epigenetic modifications mark specific areas of DNA to attract or keep proteins that activate genes. Thus, these modifications step by step form the typical structure of active and passive DNA sequences for each cell type. Moreover, unlike the constant "letter" sequence in our DNA, epigenetic markings can change throughout our life and in accordance with our environment or lifestyle. For example, smoking changes the epigenetic structure of lung cells to reach cancer in the final stage. Other effects of external stimuli such as stress, illness or nutritional habits also have to be stored in the epigenetic memory of cells.

Some Examples Supporting Epigenetic Regulation

Randy Jirtle and Dana Dolinoy from Duke University, during an experiment, all of the same twin mice in terms of appearance and diseases over time they realized that they were quite different. the mouse one's color is mixed with black brown (normal color) that the color of the other is turning to yellow They expressed. In the subsequent follow-up, the yellow mouse gaining more weight and accumulating more fat, cancer and the risk of diabetes is higher than the other They observed. In these mice with different hair colors, In the later stages of the studies, named "agouti", color to the hairs the gene giving is active in the yellow mouse, while the brown twin is silent In the later studies, it was determined that maternal nutrition has an effect on the work of the offspring genes. the bisphenol A (BPA) chemical They try. This item is in plastic bottles, plastic food available in packaging and baby bottles. During pregnancy when BPA is added to the food of mice, yellow obese it was seen that the number of offspring increased considerably. This situation, the BPA in the mother's food will be born of the offspring They explained that it affects the work of the gene that determines the hair color. The work team, after these initial results, During that time, the mother added vitamin B9 (folic acid) to the food of the mice in addition to BPA. In another experiment group the genist (a substance obtained from soybeans) It was used. Of the rats born yellow and obese a huge decrease in the number; in the number of brown ones a huge increase has occurred. Here the mother eats things have an impact on the work of their offspring genes has been interpreted. This The mechanism behind the change is DNA methylation. Folic acid, added to the daily diet of mothers, assumed the role of 'methyl group' provider. Yellow mouse methyl groups to agouti gene in hair-forming cells It is not included. Therefore, while the gene should no longer work continued to work. The Agouti gene has been methylated in a brown mouse, and therefore the gene's work It is stopped.

In another study, it was found that the prenatal body mass index of the mother was one of the most important determinants of the child's future body mass index. Many studies have shown that the mother's diet and exercise habits are associated with children's risk of obesity.

In a study conducted at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, a group of mice were given an electrical shock along with the cherry blossom scent and a phobia was created against the cherry blossom scent. It was seen that the later generations of these mice were more sensitive to the cherry blossom scent and gave fearful reactions when they received the scent. Later, the researchers examined the sperm DNA of these mice. A chemical change was observed in the sperm DNA of the mice in the area responsible for the smell

In another example, Dr. Sharon Moalem describes a study on identical twins in Canada and the UK. In this study, the genetic coding of the five-year-old 'single egg' twins is examined, the genetic coding of the twins is the same. When they reached the age of 12, they observed that the twins showed significant epigenetic differences. While the twin brothers who were not bullied in their school years remained the same as epigenetics, the sister who was bullied also changed epigenetically. This causes the brother who is bullied to have difficulty in dealing with stressful situations and increases the possibility of depression in older ages.

Nutrition

Nutrition and lifestyle aging process It can affect. Cell within twenty-four hours DNA average 10,000 times free radical is being attacked. The cell occurs trying to eliminate the incoming injury sometimes even more than the repair capacity When the number of mutant mitochondria increases and the body to maintain its functions cannot produce the required energy. This is why With age, muscle weakness increases and the processing speed of neurons decreases. Nutrition, important for the body to resist these factors has a role: some minerals (zinc and such as selenium), some vitamins (A, C and E vitamins) and some functional nutrients components (such as lycopene and polyphenols) DNA, damage to cellular lipids and proteins tries to prevent



What are the differences between queen bees and worker bees? Dr. Sharon Moalem says the answer to this question is not genes. While queen bees and worker bees may have the same DNA, the only thing that makes one queen bee and the worker bee is the difference between their feeding on the larvae. The bee colony feeds a few lucky larvae with royal jelly rich in protein and amino acid when the queen bee selection period comes. Although all the larvae are fed with rich royal jelly, worker bees benefit from this feast for a short time, while the queen bees, who are chosen as queen bees, continue to be fed with royal jelly until they become adults. The only bee left to kill other queen candidates is the queen. Although there is no difference in the genes of queen bees, royal jelly silences the gene that turns honey bees into workers, making lucky bees queen.



Nutrition During Pregnancy Changes The Baby's DNA

According to the experts' theory, the baby, which continues its development in the womb, tries to be prepared for the environment it will encounter when it is born, and its DNA changes accordingly.

Folic acid and vitamin B are essential ingredients to form methyl. consuming too much of these methyl-giving nutrients can quickly change gene expression, especially in early development.

Iodine helps the development of the brain and nervous system of infants and children. Your need for iodine increases during pregnancy and meeting the needs of your developing baby is only up to you.

Iron The need for iron during pregnancy increases due to an increase in the blood volume of the expectant mother, the growth of the fetus and the placenta. Iron intake is important to help prevent iron deficiency anemia and has benefits to the development of the baby.

Vitamin E, zinc, omega 3, α-linoleic acid, containing compounds such as polyphenol, isothiocyanate cancer-causing epigenetics can prevent changes from occurring It is known.

Every day more information about epigenetics is emerging. In order for us and the generations after us to be healthier, it is beneficial to choose a more natural lifestyle. By avoiding chemicals and contaminants, doing sports, we can inherit healthier genes with natural organic nutrition instead of pesticides and GMO foods.

Conclusion

In the last century in biology and especially genetics the developments have been remarkable and they has offered surprising innovations in many areas of interest. In a more recent period, the name "epigenetics" in genetics a new case has been discovered and many studies in this area Many of them were made with the genetic analysis we know. new inexplicable theories have been produced. In the epigenetic field In the light of these ongoing works today, some It is hoped that some problems, such as hereditary diseases and cancer, whose mechanisms have not been fully resolved, can be elucidated.



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