Epigenetics
Which statement about epigenetics inheritance is false? 1. Environmental factors never cause changes in gene expression that we transmit to our children. 2. Environmental factors cause changes in patterns of gene expression that we can transmit to our children. 3. Epigenetic changes in gene expression are transmitted to our children through egg and sperm. 4. Our nutritional practices (diet) can cause epigenetic changes in gene expression that are transmitted in our children. 5. The epigenetic changes in gene expression that we transmit to our children may improve their ability to adapt to current environmental conditions.
1
Which statement about epigenetics is false? 1. Epigenetics relates to changes in gene expression in an organism that are caused by mutation (changes in nucleotide sequence). 2. Epigenetics relates to changes in gene expression that do not relate to changes in nucleotide sequence. 3. Environmental factors cause epigenetic changes in gene expression. 4. Environmental factors cause epigenetic changes in gene expression that can increase or decrease the individual's risk of disease. 5. Epigenetic changes in gene expression enable identical twins to show different phenotypes.
1
_________ is the addition of acetyl group that causes loose packing of nucleosomes.
Acetylation
Epigenetic changes in patterns of gene expression has been shown to increase the risk of ________. (4)
Cancer, depression, diabetes, and hypertension.
Which enzymes add methyl groups to the cytosine nucleotides in our DNA molecules?
DNA methyltransferase
Epigenetic changes are due to the modification of _________. (3)
DNA nucleotides, histone proteins, and mRNA.
How is epigenetics related to emotional stress?
Emotional stress in early childhood can increase the risk of depression.
How is epigenetics related to environmental conditions?
Environmental factors affect the activation and deactivation of genes.
________ is the study of changes in individuals, and in individual cells, caused by changes in gene expression that are unrelated to changes in the genetic code itself (nucleotide changes).
Epigenetics
How can there be three generation in a pregnant woman?
Germ cells in the fetus produce reproductive cells.
How is epigenetics related to increased caloric intake?
Increased caloric intake in early childhood increase the risk of diabetes.
_______ is the addition of methyl group that causes nucleosomes to tightly pack together.
Methylation
Is epigenetics a mutation?
No.
_______ impacts the pattern of methyl groups attached to genes.
Nutrition
How is epigenetics related to nutrition?
Nutrition causes epigenetic change in gene expression that causes change in development.
The epigenetic impact is that environmental factors affect gene expression and thus can influence: (3)
Rate of aging, risk of infectious disease, and the risk of disorders.
How can environmental factors, such as stress, affect the methylation patterns of cytosine nucleotides in genes and consequently influence transcription (gene expression)?
Stress causes methylation where the nucleosomes become more tightly packed, meaning the DNA will not be transcribed.
How is epigenetics related to stress?
Stress in the womb and stress in early childhood increase the risk of hypertension.
How is epigenetics related to temperature?
Temperature causes epigenetic change in gene expression that regulate flowering in some plant species and sex-determination in some animal species.
What is the biochemical analysis of epigenetics?
The recognition of an environmental factor by a receptor causes changes in chromatin structure that change gene expression.
What is epigenetic inheritance?
The transmission of different traits to future generations by mechanisms unrelated to changes in nucleotide sequences.
What is trans-generational epigenetics?
When parents transmit epigenetic changes in gene expression to their children through egg and sperm.
Can genetically identical individuals have different phenotypes?
Yes.
Can you pass epigenetic changes you experienced during your lifetime to your children?
Yes.
What is epigenetic variation related to? (4)
acclimation to local environmental conditions, the risk of cancers, diseases, and mental health disorders, phenotype differences among genetically-identical animals, plants, and humans, medical problems in cloned animals
What disorders can the impact of epigenetics that environmental factors affect gene expression influence? (4)
cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, obesity.
Chemical changes that cause change in the chromatin structure impact epigenetics because: (9)
changes in environmental conditions, adapt to changing environmental conditions, reversible, can be transmitted to future generations, include DNA methylation, include chemical modifications to the histone proteins, methylation (CH3), acetylation (C2H3O), and phosphorylation (PO4)
Genetically identical individuals can show differences in phenotype due to _______________.
changes in the pattern of gene expression
Gene expression due to changes in chromatin structure results from the ___________.
chemical modification of chromatin
Epigenetics describes changes in gene expression that are only related to __________ __________.
chromatin structure
Different patterns of gene expression due to the environment result in _______________.
different combinations of protein and RNA
Epigenetic inheritance must occur through male and female ______.
gametes
Methylation _______ transcription.
inhibits
Stress changes the pattern in ______ groups (CH3) attached to genes.
methyl
Epigenetics is the study of genetics changes (inside/outside) of nucleotides.
outside
Subtle changes in the environment can cause subtle changes in the ________.
phenotype
Epigenetics describes the effect that environmental changes have on our genes that can change our _______.
phenotypes
Methylation in the promoter sequence of gene expression generally ______ transcription.
silences
Fertility is reduced in the children of parents exposed to _____.
toxins
