Lecture

Epigenetics: Understanding Inheritance and Gene Expression

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

Description

This lecture on epigenetics covers the structural adaptation of chromosomal regions to influence gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. It explores how epigenetic changes can determine cell differentiation, react to environmental factors, and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's and stress-related disorders. The discussion extends to the inheritance of epigenetic modifications across developmental stages, biological ages, and environmental influences, showcasing their impact on disease development and cellular differentiation.

In MOOC

Neuroscience Reconstructed: Genetics and Brain Development

Official source

Quiz

Related concepts (32)

DNA methylation

DNA methylation is a biological process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule. Methylation can change the activity of a DNA segment without changing the sequence. When located in a gene promoter, DNA methylation typically acts to repress gene transcription. In mammals, DNA methylation is essential for normal development and is associated with a number of key processes including genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, repression of transposable elements, aging, and carcinogenesis.

Epigenetics

In biology, epigenetics is the study of stable changes in cell function (known as marks) that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. The Greek prefix epi- (ἐπι- "over, outside of, around") in epigenetics implies features that are "on top of" or "in addition to" the traditional genetic basis for inheritance. Epigenetics most often involves changes that affect the regulation of gene expression, and that persist through cellular division.

Methylation

In the chemical sciences, methylation denotes the addition of a methyl group on a substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replacing a hydrogen atom. These terms are commonly used in chemistry, biochemistry, soil science, and the biological sciences. In biological systems, methylation is catalyzed by enzymes; such methylation can be involved in modification of heavy metals, regulation of gene expression, regulation of protein function, and RNA processing.

Histone

In biology, histones are highly basic proteins abundant in lysine and arginine residues that are found in eukaryotic cell nuclei. They act as spools around which DNA winds to create structural units called nucleosomes. Nucleosomes in turn are wrapped into 30-nanometer fibers that form tightly packed chromatin. Histones prevent DNA from becoming tangled and protect it from DNA damage. In addition, histones play important roles in gene regulation and DNA replication. Without histones, unwound DNA in chromosomes would be very long.

Environmental health

Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment affecting human health. In order to effectively control factors that may affect health, the requirements that must be met in order to create a healthy environment must be determined. The major sub-disciplines of environmental health are environmental science, toxicology, environmental epidemiology, and environmental and occupational medicine.

Related lectures (51)

Genetic Variability and Diversity: Mutations MOOC: Neuroscience Reconstructed: Genetics and Brain Development

Explores genetic variability, mutations, SNPs, and their impact on the genetic code.

Neuroepigenetics: Chromatin Structure and Regulation

Explores neuroepigenetics, focusing on chromatin structure, regulation, and epigenetic inheritance in neurodevelopment.

Myc-Max: Protein Interactions and Cell Proliferation

Explores the interactions between Myc, Max, and Miz proteins in cell proliferation.

Neuroepigenetics: Chromatin Regulation and Memory Formation

Delves into chromatin regulation's role in memory formation, genetic and epigenetic influences on learning, and the potential of HDAC inhibitors as cognitive enhancers.

Fatigue Phenomenon: Material Level