Comments on: What is epigenetics?

By: Maternal starvation has lasting effect on fetus’ DNA

Maternal starvation has lasting effect on fetus’ DNA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:42:41 +0000

[...] linked to colorectal cancer in humans. In this latest study, it’s too early to tell what the epigenetic effects are of a mother’s starvation on the adult life of her child. But the take home from [...]

By: Suicide - genetic changes in brain as a result of childhood abuse

Suicide - genetic changes in brain as a result of childhood abuse — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:54:47 +0000

[...] brains, researchers at the McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, led by Moshe Szyfa, discovered that epigenetic markings were different. That is, the researchers noted a chemical coating on genes that was [...]

By: Penny

Penny — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:00:09 +0000

Thanks Barry

I recall reading an article about the pitfalls of future cloning of beloved pets. Even if you cloned a favorite (deceased) pet such as a cat or a dog, they most probably would not look the same because of the different environment they developed in and so thier genes were expressed differently.

By: Barry

Barry — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:58:33 +0000

Epigenetics is a very cool thing (even if it has such an awful name!). In an answer I wrote here I talk about how the environment can affect how a gene is expressed (this was in regard to how a surrogate mother might affect a child). The picture of the two mice who are genetically identical but who express their genes differently because of what mom ate is particularly stunning.

By: Krissy Poopyhands

Krissy Poopyhands — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:52:14 +0000

FYI – Nova has a good layman’s summary of epigenetics that I recently linked in at Speckblog. It’s viewable online.

http://www.speckblog.net/2007/08/29/why-it-actually-is-all-your-fault/