The term epigenetics has been stated as heritable changes occurred in gene functions which cannot be allotted to variations in the DNA sequence. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible.
Gene expression denotes to how frequently or when proteins are made from the instructions within your special DNA sequences called genes. While genetic changes can alter which protein is created, epigenetic changes influence the expression of genes to turn genes “on” and “off.” state.
Environment, diet and exercise have been reported to affect epigenetics. DNA methylation and histone modification have been identified as the two main epigeneticevents. DNA methylation works by adding a -methyl chemical (-CH3) group to a DNA sequence of a gene, in which a gene comes to an “off’ state, whereas demethylation turns genes “on.DNA is wrapped around histone proteins.
When histones proteins are tightly clustered, proteins that approach to read genes cannot access the DNA easily, turning “off.” genes. When histones are loosely packed, more genes in DNA sequences can be accessed by proteins that scan the gene, making a gene turned “on.” state.
‘on’ and ‘off’
Chemical groups such as –acetyl groups can be added or removed from histones to make the histones more tightly or loosely packed, allowing genes to turn ‘on’ and ‘off’, In addition, non-coding RNA may also recruit proteins to modify histones to turn genes “on” or “off.”
Epigenetic changes affect your health in different ways. For example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, affects histones in your immune cells, resulting in turning “off” the IL-12B gene and weakens your immune system.
A range of human cancers show various epigenetic changes such as altered DNA methylation patterns and expression of enzymes responsible for histone architecture maintenances. A pregnant woman’s environment and behaviour during pregnancy, such as whether she eats healthy food, can change the baby’s epigenetics. Bioactive dietary compounds such as isothiocyanates in broccoli, genistein in soybean, fatty acids in milk, resveratrol in red grapes have been shown to exert epigenetic effects scientifically.