Epigenetic Mechanisms In Development And Disease

Epigenetics fine-tunes the life processes dictated by DNA sequences, but also kick-starts pathophysiological processes including diabetes, AIDS and cancer. This volume tracks the latest research on epigenetics, including work on new-generation therapeutics.

Epigenetic Mechanisms in Development and Disease, the latest volume in the Biochemical Society Symposia series, features ten chapters from the Biochemical Society's Annual Symposium held at the University of Leeds on 11 - 13 December 2012. Epigenetic mechanisms, including the post translational modifications of chromatin (DNA and histones), play pivotal roles in development, cell differentiation and cell identity. Inappropriate regulation of epigenetic mechanisms has been implicated in common human diseases including diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders and cancers. Environmental influences such as nutrition and stress can lead to epigenetic alterations and contribute to chronic disease biology.

Many inheritable changes in gene function are not explained by changes in the DNA sequence. Such epigenetic mechanisms are known to influence gene function in most complex organisms and include effects such as transposon function, chromosome imprinting, yeast mating type switching and telomeric silencing. In recent years, epigenetic effects have become a major focus of research activity. This monograph, edited by three well-known biologists from different specialties, is the first to review and synthesize what is known about these effects across all species, particularly from a molecular perspective, and will be of interest to everyone in the fields of molecular biology and genetics.

The ability of a single genome to give rise to hundreds of functionally distinct cell type programs is in itself remarkable. Pioneering studies over the past few decades have demonstrated that this plasticity is retained throughout development, a phenomenon of epigenetic programming and reprogramming that remains one of the most fascinating areas of modern biology, with major relevance to human health and disease. This book presents the basic biology involved, including key mechanistic insights into this rapidly growing field.

This is the first comprehensive, authoritative, and easy-to-understand introduction to modern epigenetics. Authored by two active researchers in the field, it introduces key concepts one step at a time, enabling students at all levels to benefit from it. The authors begin by presenting a historical overview that places epigenetics in context, and makes it clear that the field is not (as some presume) completely new. Next, they introduce and explain key epigenetic mechanisms, and discuss the roles these mechanisms may play in inheritance, organism development, health and disease, behavior, evolution, ecology, and the interaction of individual organisms with their environments. Coverage includes: non-coding RNAs in each kingdom; allelic interactions; CRYSPR; gene silencing; epigenetics of germline and epigenetic memory; epigenetic regulation of genome stability and plant stress response; and much more. The authors conclude by offering significant new insights into how knowledge of epigenetics and epigenomics may promote the development of technologies and solutions in areas ranging from behavioral neuroscience to cancer treatment, toxicology to the development of hardier crops.

Computational Epigenetics and Diseases, written by leading scientists in this evolving field, provides a comprehensive and cutting-edge knowledge of computational epigenetics in human diseases. In particular, the major computational tools, databases, and strategies for computational epigenetics analysis, for example, DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNA, noncoding RNA, and ceRNA, are summarized, in the context of human diseases. This book discusses bioinformatics methods for epigenetic analysis specifically applied to human conditions such as aging, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, liver and autoimmune disorders, and reproductive and respiratory diseases. Additionally, different organ cancers, such as breast, lung, and colon, are discussed. This book is a valuable source for graduate students and researchers in genetics and bioinformatics, and several biomedical field members interested in applying computational epigenetics in their research. Provides a comprehensive and cutting-edge knowledge of computational epigenetics in human diseases Summarizes the major computational tools, databases, and strategies for computational epigenetics analysis, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNA, noncoding RNA, and ceRNA Covers the major milestones and future directions of computational epigenetics in various kinds of human diseases such as aging, atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart disease, neurological disorders, cancers, blood disorders, liver diseases, reproductive diseases, respiratory diseases, autoimmune diseases, human imprinting disorders, and infectious diseases

You Are About To Develop An Insider Understanding Of Epigenetics, Including Their Relationship With The DNA, Environmental Factors, Human Development And Evolution; Their Role In Human Mental And Physical Health, Including Their Use In The Treating Of Different Conditions And Diseases Along With The Most Current Epigenetic Practices And Research! What started as a broad research focused on combining genetics and developmental biology during the mid-twentieth century has evolved into the field we currently refer to as epigenetics- the mechanism of gene control that can either promote or repress gene expression without altering the genetic coding of the organism. Today, we know that the environment factors and individual lifestyles can have a direct interaction with epigenetic change, which can be reflected at various stages throughout the life of an individual and even in the later generations. You've heard that a mother's exposure to pollution can affect her child's asthma susceptibility, haven't you? No? How about the argument that a child's mental fitness can be (epigenetically) influenced by his/her dad's diet? Epigenetic change, which has nothing to do with the changes to the underlying DNA sequence, does affect how cells read genes and this biological change is influenced by several factors which include environment, lifestyle and health state through a mechanisms including a popular one known as DNA methylation. But what is the relationship between the epigenetic change and physical and physiological conditions as regards to their onset and improvement? How are epigenetic modifications being used to understand our environment, society and increasing human adaptation? How exactly do epigenetic therapies work? How does DNA affect epigenetic changes? How can we exploit epigenetic mechanisms to understand life better and improve it? If you have these and other related questions, this book is for you. More precisely, you will learn: What epigenetics are and their role in developmental psychology The influence of epigenetics at the molecular level and the impact of DNA damage in epigenetic change How epigenetics are studied The functions and consequences of epigenetics, and their specific benefits in mindfulness training, healthy eating and physical activity How genes control the growth and division of cells The role of epigenetic therapy in diabetic retinopathy, emotional disorders, cardiac dysfunction, cancer and schizophrenia and many more How epigenetic modifications are used in cancer treatment, and plant and animal evolution How epigenetic mechanisms are used in processes including human adaptation, memory formation, growth and infant neuro-behavior. How epigenetic mechanisms are used in maternal care How environmental chemical exposures affect epigenetics The role of epigenetics in neurodegenerative diseases, drug formation, human development, the development of Hox genes and many more The role of environmental exposures in pathophysiology of IPF Modulation of epigenetic marks by environmental exposures How epigenetic regulation affects the immune system …And so much more! So if you've been exposed to the concept of epigenetics as a novel way of understanding disorders, inheritance and evolution and wondered what it's really all about and how it's related with environmental exposure and different therapy practices, this book is all you need! Scroll up and click Buy Now With 1-Click or Buy Now to get started!

This landmark publication provides the first definitive account of how and why subtle influences on the fetus and during early life can have such profound consequences for adult health and diseases. Although the epidemiological evidence for this link has long proved compelling, it is only much more recently that the scientific and physiological basis has begun to be studied in depth and fully understood. The compilation, written by many of the world's leading experts in this exciting field, summarizes these scientific and clinical advances.