Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the predicted outcome of imprinting genes inherited from the father?
What is the predicted outcome of imprinting genes inherited from the father?
Which syndrome is characterized by short stature and obesity when the deletion on chromosome 15 is inherited from the father?
Which syndrome is characterized by short stature and obesity when the deletion on chromosome 15 is inherited from the father?
What common symptom is associated with Angelman syndrome?
What common symptom is associated with Angelman syndrome?
Which of the following syndromes is linked to overexpression of a gene product?
Which of the following syndromes is linked to overexpression of a gene product?
Signup and view all the answers
What primarily causes growth retardation in Russell-Silver syndrome?
What primarily causes growth retardation in Russell-Silver syndrome?
Signup and view all the answers
How does in utero ethanol exposure affect neural stem cells?
How does in utero ethanol exposure affect neural stem cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant risk factor associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome?
What is a significant risk factor associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome?
Signup and view all the answers
Which chromosome is primarily associated with both Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes?
Which chromosome is primarily associated with both Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a key role of DNA methylation in human health?
What is a key role of DNA methylation in human health?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement is correct regarding the inactive and active X chromosomes in females?
Which statement is correct regarding the inactive and active X chromosomes in females?
Signup and view all the answers
How is X chromosome inactivation determined in a female embryo?
How is X chromosome inactivation determined in a female embryo?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the relationship between histones and DNA?
What is the relationship between histones and DNA?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes heterochromatin?
Which of the following describes heterochromatin?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential outcome of somatic mosaicism in females?
What is a potential outcome of somatic mosaicism in females?
Signup and view all the answers
What happens during gastrulation regarding the X chromosomes?
What happens during gastrulation regarding the X chromosomes?
Signup and view all the answers
What does RNA-based mechanism in epigenetics refer to?
What does RNA-based mechanism in epigenetics refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a potential effect of starvation experienced by individuals in utero during the winter of 1943 in the Netherlands?
What is a potential effect of starvation experienced by individuals in utero during the winter of 1943 in the Netherlands?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement accurately describes the relationship between lifestyle differences and methylation patterns in monozygotic twins?
Which statement accurately describes the relationship between lifestyle differences and methylation patterns in monozygotic twins?
Signup and view all the answers
What effect does histone acetylation have on histones?
What effect does histone acetylation have on histones?
Signup and view all the answers
Histone methylation can influence DNA binding how?
Histone methylation can influence DNA binding how?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the study suggest about the drug metformin in relation to aging?
What does the study suggest about the drug metformin in relation to aging?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a consequence of mutations in genes coding for histone modifying proteins?
What is a consequence of mutations in genes coding for histone modifying proteins?
Signup and view all the answers
How do tumor cells generally differ from normal cells regarding DNA methylation?
How do tumor cells generally differ from normal cells regarding DNA methylation?
Signup and view all the answers
What can potentially be reversed according to the principles of epigenetics?
What can potentially be reversed according to the principles of epigenetics?
Signup and view all the answers
What is unique about the epigenetic information in early embryonic cells?
What is unique about the epigenetic information in early embryonic cells?
Signup and view all the answers
What is genomic imprinting?
What is genomic imprinting?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of cancer has seen promise in screening for epigenetic regulation?
Which type of cancer has seen promise in screening for epigenetic regulation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is associated with altered DNA methylation patterns in autism spectrum disorder?
What is associated with altered DNA methylation patterns in autism spectrum disorder?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the genetic conflict hypothesis about parental investment?
What is the genetic conflict hypothesis about parental investment?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do protamines have compared to histones?
What role do protamines have compared to histones?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a proposed characterization of senescence in aging individuals?
Which of the following is a proposed characterization of senescence in aging individuals?
Signup and view all the answers
What are housekeeping genes responsible for?
What are housekeeping genes responsible for?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Epigenetics and Disease
- Epigenetics are modifications to gene expression that don't change the DNA sequence, but still affect phenotype. These modifications include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-based mechanisms.
- DNA methylation is prominent in females, particularly on the inactive X chromosome, leading to gene silencing.
- Histone modification affects how tightly DNA is packaged, influencing gene expression. Acetylation decreases positive charge, making DNA more accessible; methylation can increase or decrease binding.
- The state of individual segments of DNA affects cell potential and development.
- Inactivation of one X chromosome is random during development, creating variation in somatic cells.
Epigenetics and Development
- Totipotent cells in early embryos can become any cell type because they have the potential to express all genes.
- Epigenetic modifications are essential for cells to differentiate.
- Housekeeping genes in all cells escape epigenetic silencing.
- Gene expression depends on the "epigenomic information"
- Epigenetics are involved in regulating gene expression in human development.
- Epigenetic regulation occurs on top of the DNA's nucleotide sequence, allowing diversity of function.
Genomic Imprinting
- Imprinting involves silencing either the maternal or paternal copy of a gene, impacting offspring development.
- In cases like Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome, same deletion causes greatly different outcomes based on the parent of origin.
- Developmental outcomes are dependent on whether the deletion is from the maternal or paternal copy.
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, caused by errors in imprinting, shows characteristics like large size and increased risk of certain cancers.
Epigenetics & Cognitive Development
- In-utero exposure to ethanol can alter neuron differentiation.
- PTSD can lead to changes in gene expression and methylation patterns in key neuronal pathways.
- Epigenetic changes can be influenced by factors like poverty, nutrition and developmental stress, and can play a role in mental health.
- Environmental factors like the Dutch Hunger Winter (1944-45) affected epigenetic effects on future generations.
- Monozygotic (identical) twins exhibit increasingly different DNA methylations as they age, potentially due to lifestyle choices and environmental stressors.
Epigenetics & Cancer
- Cancer cells often exhibit abnormal methylation patterns.
- Epigenetic marks can be used as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for cancers.
- Drugs that target epigenetic pathways show promise for treating certain types of cancers.
- Several drug therapies aimed at modifying epigenetic processes are being investigated, potentially for several cancers (i.e. leukemia)
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores the concepts of epigenetics and their role in both disease and development. Learn about the modifications to gene expression, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, and how they influence cell differentiation and phenotype. Understand the implications of these mechanisms in various biological contexts.
