Environmental Epigenomics In Health And Disease: Epigenetics And Complex Diseases (epigenetics And Human Health)
by Randy L. Jirtle /
2013 / English / PDF
3.5 MB Download
There are now compelling human epidemiological and animal
experimental data that indicate the risk of developing adult-onset
complex diseases and neurological disorders are influenced by
persistent epigenetic adaptations in response to prenatal and early
postnatal exposures to environmental factors. Epigenetics refers to
heritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in
the sequence of the DNA. The main components of the epigenetic code
are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
The epigenetic programs are established as stem cell differentiate
during embryogenesis, and they are normally faithfully reproduced
during mitosis. Moreover, they can also be maintained during
meiosis, resulting in epigenetic transgenerational disease
inheritance, and also potentially introducing phenotypic variation
that is selected for in the evolution of new species. The objective
of this two volume book is to provide evidence that
environmental exposures during early development can alter the risk
of developing medical conditions, such as asthma, autism, cancer,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and schizophrenia later
in life by modifying the epigenome. Consequently, epigenetic
research promises to markedly improve our ability to diagnosis,
prevent, and treat the pathological conditions of humans; however,
it also introduces unique legal and ethical issues. This volume
highlights the correlation between environmental factors and
complex diseases, such as autism, addiction, neurological diseases,
diabetes, obesity and cancer. It concludes with a chapter on legal
and ethical implications of epigenetics.
There are now compelling human epidemiological and animal
experimental data that indicate the risk of developing adult-onset
complex diseases and neurological disorders are influenced by
persistent epigenetic adaptations in response to prenatal and early
postnatal exposures to environmental factors. Epigenetics refers to
heritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in
the sequence of the DNA. The main components of the epigenetic code
are DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
The epigenetic programs are established as stem cell differentiate
during embryogenesis, and they are normally faithfully reproduced
during mitosis. Moreover, they can also be maintained during
meiosis, resulting in epigenetic transgenerational disease
inheritance, and also potentially introducing phenotypic variation
that is selected for in the evolution of new species. The objective
of this two volume book is to provide evidence that
environmental exposures during early development can alter the risk
of developing medical conditions, such as asthma, autism, cancer,
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and schizophrenia later
in life by modifying the epigenome. Consequently, epigenetic
research promises to markedly improve our ability to diagnosis,
prevent, and treat the pathological conditions of humans; however,
it also introduces unique legal and ethical issues. This volume
highlights the correlation between environmental factors and
complex diseases, such as autism, addiction, neurological diseases,
diabetes, obesity and cancer. It concludes with a chapter on legal
and ethical implications of epigenetics.