Originally published October 28 2005
Epigenetics emerging as new research brings media attention
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The field of epigenetics proposes that environmental agents like nutrients, toxins and behaviors can activate or deactivate a gene without altering genetic code.
These startling scientific discoveries illuminate the emerging field of epigenetics, in which single nutrients, toxins, behaviors or environmental exposures of any sort can silence or activate a gene without altering its genetic code in any way.
Rather, the environmental exposure triggers a chemical change in the body or brain that mobilizes a group of molecules -- called a methyl group.
Co-initiator of the conference is Fred Tyson, Ph.D., at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Such stealth changes often occur in embryonic or fetal development, but they set the stage for an adult's susceptibility to a host of diseases and behavioral responses, the data suggest.
Moreover, epigenetic changes -- so named because they sit on top of the gene and leave its sequence unchanged -- can also be passed down from one generation to the next, said Jirtle.
"Children are set up in utero to experience an environment of low nutrition and find themselves in the land of plenty.
Behaviors have a direct impact on brain wiring, said Moshe Szyf, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University in Montreal and a presenter at the conference.
Maternal care, for example, has long been known to affect behavioral outcomes of children, as exemplified by orphans who grow up neglected or impoverished.
But Szyf and his collaborator Michael Meaney at McGill University have linked maternal grooming behaviors in rats to a specific brain change in the glucocorticoid receptor, which controls the level of stress hormone released by the adrenal glands.
The scientists successfully turned the good stress responders into less healthy stress responders, and vice versa by injecting a different compound into the brains of poor responders.
"If Atrizine is having this effect in animals, we question its effects on humans," said Schlesinger.
"Are the current standards of exposure high enough to protect the organisms exposed to select chemicals?
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml