"The Ghost in Your Genes" Video Questions

What does the term "epigenetics" literally mean?

"above" or "on top of" genetics. It refers to external modifications to DNA that turn genes "on" or "off." These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells "read" genes.

Have epigenetic treatments had any successes in treating some cancers?

2004 drug for removal of methyl tags, goal is trying instructions of cancer cells, yes successful

What happens to a mouse in which the Agouti gene is always turned on?

Always on = yellow mouse, blocks a receptor that tells us when we are full, so makes fat mouse

How did scientists "turn off" the Agouti gene in Agouti female mice? What happened to the offspring of the Agouti mothers in which the gene was turned off?

Researchers gave mothers that have a lot of minerals and folic acid, fat yellow mothers gave pups that are thin and don't have the yellow gene

Do researchers think exposure to environmental toxins (such as pesticides) can cause epigenetic changes that can be passed through generations?

Yes, pregnant rats and offspring between 6months-year a range of diseases that weren't originally there were there for those who were exposed, major diseases occurred in 85% of every generation after individual exposed to toxin, it doesn't just effect individual exposed but also generations 2-3 down the line

Is there evidence that epigenetic changes are heritable over several generations (known as transgenerational responses)? What human study demonstrates this?

Yes, the grandfather that had plenty food equals grandchild that has diabetes, epigenetic studies

According to epigenetic researchers, do young twins or older twins show greater epigenetic similarities?

Younger twins show greater epigenetic similarities

What "turns off" the Agouti gene in the thin mouse?

a methyl tag that shuts it down

How many were actually found as a result of the Human Genome Project?

actually found 30,000-40,000 (same as fish and less then plants)

What are the benefits of sequencing the human epigenome?

tells us why cells function the way we do, why organisms function the way they do, how genes we have are regulated

What is the biggest hurdle of sequencing the human epigenome?

while the genome is the same in every cell, the genome varies from tissue to tissue and over time

Do researchers think epigenetic causes can result in cancer?

yes

Prior to the Human Genome Project, how many genes were predicted to make up the human genome?

100,000 estimated

What changes more readily, your epigenome or your genome? Why?

Epigenomes, interphase between active environment, and experience itself changes epigenome

What is the sensitive period for transgenerational epigenetic changes in females? In males?

Females-succeptible when still in womb, males-late childhood

What happens to rats that were less nurtured by their mothers?

Showed greater increases in BP and hostility and multiple epigenetic marks silencing genes

What is Angelman's Syndrome? What causes it?

WHAT: Happy puppet children, jerky movement when walking, no speech, impaired at learning, but smiling all the time CAUSE: a genetic defect from a deletion in chromosome 15 from mom

What is Prader-Willi Syndrome? What causes it?

WHAT: floppy at birth insantionable appetite get very large CAUSE: chromosome 15 deletion from dad

What happens when these less nurtured by their mothers rats are injected with a chemical that removes epigenetic marks?

it turns on and entire behavior of rat changed and stress levels went down and epigenetic marking was changed