Article: Whew! Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny
- From: "Robert Karl Stonjek" <rstonjek@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 01:30:36 -0400 (EDT)
Whew! Your DNA Isn't Your Destiny
By Brandon Keim
02:00 AM Aug. 16, 2005 PT
The more we learn about the human genome, the less DNA looks like destiny.
As scientists discover more about the "epigenome," a layer of biochemical
reactions that turns genes on and off, they're finding that it plays a big
part in health and heredity.
By mapping the epigenome and linking it with genomic and health information,
scientists believe they can develop better ways to predict, diagnose and
treat disease.
"A new world is opening up, one that is so much more complex than the
genomic world," said Moshe Szyf, an epigeneticist at Canada's McGill
University.
The epigenome can change according to an individual's environment, and is
passed from generation to generation. It's part of the reason why
"identical" twins can be so different, and it's also why not only the
children but the grandchildren of women who suffered malnutrition during
pregnancy are likely to weigh less at birth.
"Now we're even talking about how to see if socioeconomic status has an
impact on the epigenome," Szyf said.
Full Text at Wired News
http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,68468,00.html
Comment:
Lamark would be pleased.
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek
.
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