PUBHLTH 30- Week 6

Most of the courses have taught you the Mendelian Theory of evolution and its traits. When did Mendel propose this?

1865 AD

Which has a greater number of genes, trees or humans?

trees

When we learn biology, we learn that different genes at the same locus confer different traits. What are these other versions called?

allele and polymorphism

what is an adduct?

A segment of DNA bound to a cancer-causing chemical. The compound inserts itself and binds itself to DNA, stopping transcription of DNA

What are the mechanisms of epigenetics?

• DNA methylation

• histone modification

• miRNA expression

How many genes are in the entire human genome?

less than 30,000 genes

How do your cells know how to differentiate into different cells?

genes and environment work together, and not everyone is equally susceptible to stressors, toxins, etc.

What are the stages of generic modulation interaction?

exposure —> target issue —> biological response —> disease

What is a benzo[a]pyrene adduct?

one of the most carcinogenic compounds commonly found in wood smoke emissions

What are epigenetic mechanisms?

flexible genomic parameters that can change genome function under exogenous influence but also provide a mechanism that allows for the stable propagation of gene activity states from one generation of cells to the next

What can influence epigenetic mechanisms?

environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, maternal diet, alcohol, pollutants, stress, and aging

What is DNA Methylation?

when a chemical group is added to DNA. Typically, this group is added to specific places in DNA where it blocks proteins that attach to DNA to read the gene. This chemical group can be removed through demethylation

What is histone modification

DNA wraps around proteins called histones. When histones are loosely packed, more DNA is exposed or not wrapped around a histone and can be accessed by proteins that '‘read’ the gene, so the gene is turned on. Chemical groups can be added or removed from histones to make the histones more tightly or loosely packed, turning genes “off” or “on”

What is non-coding RNA?

helps control gene expression by attaching to coding RNA. along with certain proteins, to break down coding RNA so that it cannot be used to make proteins. Non-coding RNA may also recruit proteins to modify histones to turn genes ‘on’ and ‘off’

How can your epigenetics change?

• development

• age

• reversibility

• Nutrition during pregnancy

• infections

• cancer