5.3 epigenetics

hows does it relate to child development?

• it is an emerging area of scientific recesr rhats hows how enviornments influence gene expression in children

• genes accumulate chemical marks that determine how much or little of the genes are expressed

  • collection of chemical marks known as the “epigenome”

  • different experiences rearrange chemical marks

• can explain why genetically identical twins can exhibit different behavior, skills, health, etc

how early experience have lifelong impacts

• genes inherited from parents provides information that guides development

  • when experiences during dev rearrange the epigenetic marks at govern gene expression, they chair whether and how much genes release info they carry

• positive experiences and/or negative influences can have a temporary or permanent epigenetic “signature”

  • affects how easily genes are switched on and off

early experiences when the brain is developing most rapidly can cause epigenetic adaptations, influencing whether, when, and how genes are expressed

extra information

• a common epigenetic change is histone (structural proteins in cell nucleus) modification

  • DNA wraps around histones, giving chromosomes their shape

  • can be modified by the addition or removal of chem groups, influencing how tightly the DNA is wrapped around which affects whether a gene can be turned on or off

• altered gene activity is a common cause of genetic disorders (ex: cancers, metabolic disorders, degenerative disorders, etc)

• epigenetics explores and studies how epigenetic modifications effect gene function, protein production, and human health