Epigenetics improved

What does “nature” mean?

Genetics: genes, DNA, genomes

What does “nurture” mean?

Environmental exposures that influence health and traits

How do nature and nurture contribute to disease?

Genes create susceptibility, while environment can trigger or modify disease risk

What is Mendelian genetics?

Traits are inherited through genes, often as dominant or recessive.

What is the basic idea of “one mutation, one phenotype”?

A genetic mutation can directly cause a specific trait or disease.

Why does epigenetics complicate simple genetics?

Environment can affect gene expression without changing DNA sequence.

Why is the Dutch famine important in epigenetics?

It showed prenatal famine exposure can affect health later in life.

What does “in utero exposure” mean?

Exposure while developing in the womb

What health outcomes were linked to Dutch famine exposure?

Obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fertility issues, cognition/psychiatric disorders, and adult mortality.

What did the Dutch famine suggest about timing of exposure?

Critical windows during development can strongly affect later health.

What is multigenerational inheritance?

An exposure affects multiple generations, such as parent, child, and possibly grandchildren.

What are gene-by-environment interactions?

When environmental exposures affect gene expression or how genes influence health.

What is DOHaD?

Developmental Origins of Health and Disease; early-life exposures can shape disease risk later.

What is a window of susceptibility?

A sensitive life stage when exposures have stronger effects, especially fetal development.

What is exposomics?

Study of all exposures a person experiences from conception to death.

What is the exposome?

The total set of environmental exposures across a lifetime.

What are major exposome categories?

Lifestyle, social factors, ecosystems, and physical-chemical exposures.

Examples of lifestyle exposures?

Diet, exercise, sleep, smoking, alcohol, drug use.

Examples of physical-chemical exposures?

Pollution, pesticides, temperature, noise, mold, water contamination, occupational exposures.

What is environmental epigenetics?

Study of how environmental exposures change epigenetic marks and affect health or disease.

What are classic epigenetic mechanisms?

DNA methylation, histone/chromatin modification, and noncoding RNAs.

Does epigenetics change the DNA sequence?

No. It changes how genes are turned on or off.

Why is epigenetics tissue-specific?

Different cell types have the same genome but different epigenetic patterns.

Why does epigenetics matter for public health?

The epigenome is malleable, so prevention can reduce disease risk

What is the main prevention idea from this lecture?

Reduce harmful exposures early, especially during pregnancy and development.