What's The Big Deal About Epigenetics Anyway?

 What's The Big Deal About Epigenetics Anyway?

Epigenetics is a hot topic that's gaining popularity and for good reason. There are several studies that indicate that epigenetic changes can affect us not only in childhood when we're developing but throughout our lifetime.

Epigenetics is essentially what controls how your genes are expressed. Gene expression can change when cells divide -- this is how organs develop, for example -- or it can change when organisms age.

What Is Epigenetics

Epigenetics is a process your body uses to switch certain genes on and off, which determine how cells read DNA. If epigenetics didn't exist, we'd all be walking around with the same DNA as our grandparents, only expressed slightly differently due to the mutations that happen during reproduction.

What Can Epigenetics Affect?

One of the most obvious effects of epigenetic changes is the lasting effect that malnutrition has on babies born to mothers who are deprived of nutrients. A child born to a mother with an iron deficiency, for example, will have stunted growth and learning disabilities even if they're brought up in a family where there's no sign of malnutrition. As we age, epigenetic changes can affect everything from our risk for cancer to the diseases we get and even how likely we are to become addicted to drugs or alcohol

epigenetics effects on autism- more research is needed but this may give some insight why vaccines (which contain mercury/aluminum) cannot be ruled out as a trigger for autism.

Epigenetics' Effect On Autism: Is This The Missing Link?  

At its core, autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that's estimated to affect 1 in every 88 American children — and the numbers continue to rise. But what causes this debilitating disease? And why are rates skyrocketing at such an alarming rate?

Symptoms of autism include:

• Impaired social interaction and communication

• Repetitive, unproductive behaviors such as rocking back and forth, flapping hands or twirling objects

• Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals. While the exact cause of autism has not been identified, researchers are turning their attention toward a potential link between environmental factors and the disorder.

While science is still in its early days, numerous studies have found a correlation between autism and exposure to various environmental chemicals — including pesticides.

But new research indicates that epigenetics may also play a role in the development of autism by impacting how genes are expressed.

What if there was a way to learn more about yourself at the DNA level?

What would you hope to gain from this test? How would it change your life if you were told you are at risk for certain health conditions?

There are several tests available now that give detailed breakdowns of information ranging from ancestry to medical risks. You can even track how your lifestyle affects your genetics by using various products that offer insights into the connection between your genes and how you live.

What a typical genetic test looks like:

Would you benefit from knowing what your genes reveal? It's possible that this test will affect the way you look at your life, as our genes don't just impact our risk for diseases — they also influence our wellness by dictating certain bodily functions such as food intolerance, dietary needs, and more.

Knowing your genetic makeup can help you make better choices in life to reduce the risk of contracting diseases or experiencing poor quality of life later on in life.

For example, if your genetic test reveals a certain marker for heart disease, you'll be empowered with information that may motivate you to head unhealthy lifestyle habits off at the pass before they have a chance to impact you.

Why Is Epigenetics Relevant?

If your gene sequence is locked in stone, how do you explain the numerous identical twins where one twin gets cancer or diabetes and the other doesn't?

You can't unless there are factors other than genetics at play. Epigenetics is the field of study that explains how your environment, lifestyle, and diet effect which genes are turned on or off at any given time.

This science offers up hope for those diagnosed with serious diseases because it shows their DNA has not completely condemned them to an unhealthy life. While genes are important, they are not the whole story.

Epigenetic changes are affected by the choices we make in life, for example, food or environmental toxins.  

The Role of Epigenetics In Autism Spectrum Disorders 

As a neurodevelopmental disorder, autism is attributed to abnormalities in brain formation and associated behaviors which typically emerge during infancy or childhood. While children with ASD often show differences in social behavior, language delays, and repetitive behaviors by age two or three, some parents feel these symptoms suddenly appear in their children after a period of normal development.

This is not always the case — new research published in Translational Psychiatry points to a possible epigenetic cause of autism that could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention for certain children.

This is why solutions like MUHDO are vital for people of all ages.

It's not just our DNA that has an epigenetic effect, but also the environment around us.

It's important to note some food choices can reduce these epigenetic effects.

More than just Healthcare

Articles about epigenetics are mostly geared towards health care, but the influence of epigenetics transcends health care.

As an example, understanding how these factors can affect whether someone's gender identity matches their biological sex would be useful for many people worldwide.

Other areas that might find applications in epigenetics include law, sociology, and even economics.

So much potential

Epigenetics is far-reaching in its potential to be influential on society.

Epigenetics has widespread implications for health and disease. More than ever before, the focus is on the environment and lifestyle diseases such as cancer, heart disease, metabolic disorders like diabetes, infectious disease (AIDS), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's), and psychiatric conditions (depression). The field of epigenetics provides a framework, a new perspective on how these diseases develop.

Conclusion

The field of epigenetics is an interesting one to follow. It has led scientists to understand more about the fields of biology, health and disease, genetics, and even sociology/anthropology.

In the future, we will get a better handle on how our choices affect us all from disorders to what we eat or drink. As our awareness of epigenetic knowledge grows, so will our understanding of how the environment affects us all.