This means being at the top of genetics. The turning on or off of certain genetics is known as epigenetics. This does not affect the DNA sequence, but it affects how it will be read. It can also be said to be the external modification of DNA and turns cells either on or off. It may live for the period a cell is still active, or it can last from childhood to adulthood. It can also be passed to the next generations at times.
When DNA methylation is added to a methyl group or a chemical cap, it may cause some alteration to the genetic material. It alters the physical structure of the DNA but never the sequence. This can actually lead to the suppression of some genes. This means that those genes will not have the chance to be expressed. The structure will be the same, but the physical appearance will be different.
DNA wraps itself around a protein known as histone. This protein is what enables the comfortable accommodation of DNA inside a cell. Otherwise, the DNA will be too long to fit into one cell. If the histone is too tight on the DNA, the cell cannot recognize it. There are however modifications that relax histones so that the genetic material can be readable in cells.
One may wonder, how come all the different body cells contain the same DNA but the cells are completely different. This is because the genes in every part of the body like the skin, the brain and others the genes are expressed differently. This is why the cells in all the body parts are always going to appear different.
As earlier mentioned, epigenetics can be passed from one generation to the next for a long time. This is likely to happen when they are present in the sperm cell, the egg cell or in both. However, it may not happen because of the reprogramming process. This occurs when the sperm and the egg cell combine to form a whole new cell. All the epigenetics may be erased. The fetus can start afresh.
This is however not always the case. Some of this genetics are resistant to the reprogramming process. This means that that genetics is going to be passed on to the child once the egg is fertilized. This means like factors such as food ingested before the conception of the child, may actually affect the future of the child. It is however yet to be proven in human beings.
Scientists believe that epigenetics can play a role in some cancers. Some genes might lack the ability to control how big a cell grows. These are what turn out to be tumors. These are because the body has no control over how large the cell becomes and it grows so large and makes some of the body functions quite difficult to be undertaken.
There are also cells that suppress the growth of genes that could help repair damaged DNA. This cause the immune system to be weak. The person will be at the risk of contracting diseases. Cancer will also have a very easy opportunity to inhabit the body of the search of a person.
When DNA methylation is added to a methyl group or a chemical cap, it may cause some alteration to the genetic material. It alters the physical structure of the DNA but never the sequence. This can actually lead to the suppression of some genes. This means that those genes will not have the chance to be expressed. The structure will be the same, but the physical appearance will be different.
DNA wraps itself around a protein known as histone. This protein is what enables the comfortable accommodation of DNA inside a cell. Otherwise, the DNA will be too long to fit into one cell. If the histone is too tight on the DNA, the cell cannot recognize it. There are however modifications that relax histones so that the genetic material can be readable in cells.
One may wonder, how come all the different body cells contain the same DNA but the cells are completely different. This is because the genes in every part of the body like the skin, the brain and others the genes are expressed differently. This is why the cells in all the body parts are always going to appear different.
As earlier mentioned, epigenetics can be passed from one generation to the next for a long time. This is likely to happen when they are present in the sperm cell, the egg cell or in both. However, it may not happen because of the reprogramming process. This occurs when the sperm and the egg cell combine to form a whole new cell. All the epigenetics may be erased. The fetus can start afresh.
This is however not always the case. Some of this genetics are resistant to the reprogramming process. This means that that genetics is going to be passed on to the child once the egg is fertilized. This means like factors such as food ingested before the conception of the child, may actually affect the future of the child. It is however yet to be proven in human beings.
Scientists believe that epigenetics can play a role in some cancers. Some genes might lack the ability to control how big a cell grows. These are what turn out to be tumors. These are because the body has no control over how large the cell becomes and it grows so large and makes some of the body functions quite difficult to be undertaken.
There are also cells that suppress the growth of genes that could help repair damaged DNA. This cause the immune system to be weak. The person will be at the risk of contracting diseases. Cancer will also have a very easy opportunity to inhabit the body of the search of a person.
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