Epigenetics

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Now go back to the epigenetics page and click on “Nutrition and the Epigenome” and read the text on this page.

- Describe the agouti gene in mice.

The Agouti gene is responsible for determining whether a mammal's coat is banded (agouti) or of a solid color (non-agouti). The chief product of the Agouti gene is Agouti signalling peptide (ASP), but there are a number of alternative splice products.

- What effect does methylation or non-methylation have on the agouti gene?

Animal studies have shown that a diet with too little methyl-donating folate or choline before or just after birth causes certain regions of the genome to be under-methylated for life.

- What implication does a methyl-rich diet in pregnant mothers have on their offspring?

Your mother's diet during pregnancy and your diet as an infant can affect your epigenome in ways that stick with you into adulthood.

- What is BPA and what effect does it have on the agouti gene?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used to make polycarbonate plastic. It is in many consumer products, including water bottles and tin cans. When mothers were fed BPA, their babies were more likely to be yellow and obese.

- What effect does food abundance or food scarcity have on a man’s GRANDCHILDREN?

Food abundance, on the other hand, was associated with a greatly shortened lifespan of the grandchildren. Early death was the result of eitherdiabetes orheart disease.

- Considering your new knowledge about epigenetics, how do you consider your current choices about how you treat your body? Do you think any changes in lifestyle choices are in order? Explain your answer.

I had a great change after my 15 years old. My weight at that time was 250lb, with diet and eating organic foods, healthy foods, I could lost 69lb. I can say that follow a healthy life style may be bad on the beginning, but in the future your health will say thank you.