Epigenetics: Unraveling the Mysteries of Nature & Nurture | Natalia Husby | TEDxUniversityofDelaware

Summary

This video explains epigenetics, the study of changes around our DNA that influence gene expression without altering the genetic code itself. It highlights how lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and traumatic experiences can shape our physical and mental health, even across generations. By understanding epigenetic processes, we can develop more effective treatments for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and PTSD. The speaker emphasizes the power of individual choices—like exercise, therapy, and healthy living—to positively impact epigenetics and improve personal well-being and that of future generations.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Epigenetics is the study of changes that occur around DNA, affecting how genes are expressed.
• 🎵 The human genome is likened to a music library, with each gene being a song that impacts us uniquely.
• 🛡 Epigenetics plays a crucial role in our biology, influencing physical and mental health, behavior, and environmental interactions.
• 🔄 External factors like air, food, and social interactions can feedback and alter epigenetics, affecting health.
• 🌟 The genetic revolution has propelled epigenetic studies, revealing that genes alone don't dictate disease.
• 🌱 Epigenetics can explain differences in disease resistance and resilience to environmental changes, like in crops.
• 🔬 Epigenetic technologies like Cut and Run and Cut and Tag allow for the study of gene expression at the single-cell level.
• 💊 Understanding epigenetic profiles can lead to more personalized and effective treatments for diseases like cancer.
• 🌿 Epigenetic studies are applicable across various fields including neuroscience, toxicology, and agriculture.
• 👪 Epigenetic changes can be inherited across generations, as seen in descendants of trauma survivors showing increased stress responses.
• 💪 Positive lifestyle choices like therapy, exercise, and healthy eating can alter epigenetics, improving health outcomes for oneself and future generations.

Q & A

What is epigenetics and how does it differ from genetics?

Epigenetics refers to changes that occur around DNA, affecting how genes are expressed without altering the DNA sequence itself. While genetics focuses on the inherited DNA, epigenetics studies how external factors influence gene expression.

How can identical twins have different traits despite having the same genetic makeup?

Identical twins can exhibit different traits due to epigenetic changes. Their environment, lifestyle choices, and experiences can lead to variations in how their genes are expressed, even though their DNA is identical.

How do lifestyle choices affect epigenetics?

Lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, exposure to stress, and environmental factors can alter epigenetic markers, which in turn can influence gene expression and affect one's health, behavior, and disease susceptibility.

How can traumatic life experiences impact someone’s health decades later?

Traumatic experiences can lead to epigenetic changes that affect how stress and emotional responses are managed. These changes can persist for years, potentially influencing mental health and the ability to handle stress or form relationships.

What is the relationship between epigenetics and disease development?

Epigenetic mechanisms can play a crucial role in disease development by influencing which genes are expressed or silenced. These changes can lead to conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes by affecting how cells function.

What are some modern technologies used to study epigenetics?

Technologies like 'Cut and Run' and 'Cut and Tag' are used to study epigenetics. They allow researchers to examine epigenetic changes in very small samples, even down to a single cell, providing insights into disease mechanisms and treatment responses.

How can epigenetics explain the varying responses to cancer treatments?

People respond differently to cancer treatments due to variations in their epigenetic profiles. Epigenetic technologies help identify these differences, leading to more personalized and effective treatment options for individuals who do not respond well to conventional therapies.

Can epigenetic changes be passed down to future generations?

Yes, epigenetic changes can be inherited. For example, children of survivors of traumatic events, like the Holocaust or Rwandan Genocide, have shown higher stress levels and PTSD symptoms, despite not experiencing the trauma themselves.

Can negative epigenetic outcomes be reversed or modified?

Yes, negative epigenetic outcomes can often be reversed or improved through healthy lifestyle choices like therapy, exercise, diet, and medication. These changes can positively impact gene expression and overall health.

What is the broader significance of epigenetics in science and everyday life?

Epigenetics is significant because it helps explain how our biology, environment, and experiences interact to shape our health and behavior. It offers potential breakthroughs in treating diseases, understanding human development, and even preventing negative traits from being passed down to future generations.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 How Lifestyle and Environment Shape Our Health

This paragraph introduces epigenetics, explaining how genetically identical twins can be drastically different due to lifestyle choices and external factors. It raises questions about the influence of these choices on diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, as well as the impact of traumatic life experiences on stress management and personal relationships. Epigenetics offers insights into how these factors affect gene expression, with the term 'epi' meaning 'upon' and genetics referring to DNA and genes. Epigenetics describes changes that occur around DNA and how they influence physical and mental health, behavior, and interactions with the environment.

05:01

🎶 Genes as Music: Epigenetics Explained

Epigenetics is likened to a musical playlist, where each gene in the human genome represents a unique song in a library. Just as different people express themselves through various music styles, our cells express different genes. Epigenetics creates the playlist of genes for each cell type, which in turn influences how our cells function and interact. This affects our overall health, behavior, and how we relate to others. External factors like the air we breathe and our daily choices act as invisible instruments in a musical, shaping our gene expression and thus influencing our health outcomes.

🔬 The Rise of Epigenetics and Its Impact on Disease

This section discusses the growing field of epigenetics, which gained momentum with the mapping of the Human Genome. Contrary to initial hopes, the answers to curing diseases are not solely in our genes; epigenetic mechanisms also play a crucial role. Epigenetics helps explain why people respond differently to the same diseases, such as COVID-19, or why some crops survive harsh conditions while others perish. The development of epigenetic technologies like Cut and Run and Cut and Tag allows scientists to study gene selection in cells, even in a single malfunctioning cell that could lead to diseases like cancer.

🧪 New Epigenetic Technologies for Cancer Treatment

Innovative epigenetic technologies offer significant advantages in studying diseases. Techniques like Cut and Run and Cut and Tag work with a small number of cells, even as few as a single cell, to identify processes leading to cancer. Different individuals have distinct epigenetic profiles, which explains why some do not respond to conventional treatments. These new technologies pave the way for personalized, more precise, and effective treatments, helping address the unique needs of patients who do not benefit from current therapies.

🌍 Broad Applications of Epigenetics Across Fields

Epigenetics has wide-reaching applications in fields such as neuroscience, toxicology, immunology, agriculture, drug development, and embryology. By applying epigenetic techniques, researchers can better understand how our biology, environments, and experiences interact to shape living organisms. This knowledge could help prevent or reverse negative outcomes from traumatic childhood experiences, understand the impact of environmental toxins on health, and potentially cure diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. The inheritance of epigenetic changes is also explored, noting that both positive and negative life experiences can be passed down through generations.

💡 Taking Control of Your Epigenetics

The final paragraph highlights the empowering message of epigenetics: individuals have the ability to take control of their gene expression through positive lifestyle choices such as therapy, exercise, healthy eating, and medication. It emphasizes that these decisions can reverse negative outcomes and improve both personal and generational health. The speaker hopes to inspire curiosity in epigenetics, encouraging both scientists and non-scientists to learn more about the field and make healthier choices for themselves and future generations. The paragraph ends with a motivational call to live the healthiest, most fulfilling life possible.

Keywords

💡Epigenetics

Epigenetics refers to the study of changes that happen around DNA without altering the genetic code itself. It is central to the video’s theme, explaining how genes are expressed based on external factors such as lifestyle, environment, and experiences. In the video, epigenetics is compared to a music playlist, showing how each cell type selects different genes to express, shaping our health and behavior.

💡Genome

A genome is the complete set of genes or genetic material in an organism. In the video, it is likened to a music library containing all the 'songs' (genes) that an individual has. The video emphasizes that while genomic information is important, understanding how these genes are selected and expressed (epigenetics) is crucial for explaining complex biological outcomes like disease resistance or susceptibility.

💡Gene Expression

Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used to create a functional product, like a protein. The video highlights how epigenetics controls gene expression, influencing how cells behave and how various genes are 'turned on or off' based on internal and external factors. This is key to understanding differences between identical twins or responses to diseases.

💡External Factors

External factors refer to influences from the environment, such as the air we breathe, food we eat, and social interactions, which can alter epigenetic markers. The video explains how these factors play a role in shaping gene expression, impacting both physical and mental health. For example, environmental stress or trauma can cause long-lasting changes in gene expression.

💡Cut and Run / Cut and Tag

These are advanced epigenetic technologies used to study how genes are selected for expression. The video mentions these techniques as tools for analyzing small numbers of cells, even down to a single cell, which is vital for studying complex conditions like cancer. These technologies allow scientists to understand not just which genes are present, but how they are activated in diseases.

💡Cancer

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth, often triggered by genetic and epigenetic changes. In the video, cancer is used as a key example of how a malfunctioning single cell, due to epigenetic factors, can lead to disease. Epigenetic technologies hold promise in developing more individualized treatments by understanding how cancer cells’ gene expression differs from normal cells.

💡Trauma

Trauma refers to deeply distressing experiences, which the video connects to epigenetic changes that can be passed down through generations. For example, survivors of events like the Holocaust or the Rwandan Genocide showed epigenetic markers linked to PTSD, which were also seen in their descendants. This highlights how life experiences can influence not just individual health but that of future generations.

💡Environmental Toxicants

Environmental toxicants are harmful substances from the environment, like pollutants or chemicals, that can cause epigenetic changes. The video discusses how these toxicants can alter gene expression, leading to potential health problems. Understanding how these external factors affect our genes is crucial for preventing negative health outcomes.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is linked to epigenetic mechanisms as gene expression can be influenced by stress, trauma, or lifestyle. The video illustrates how traumatic experiences or chronic stress can alter epigenetics, affecting mental health and even passing these changes to future generations. By modifying our lifestyle choices, we can potentially reverse some of these negative effects.

💡Lifestyle Choices

Lifestyle choices refer to everyday decisions such as diet, exercise, and therapy, which can influence gene expression through epigenetics. The video emphasizes that we have control over many factors affecting our epigenetic profiles, and making positive choices can improve both mental and physical health, not only for ourselves but for future generations.

Highlights

Epigenetics explains how genetically identical twins can have different traits and how lifestyle choices influence disease risk.

Epigenetics describes changes that happen around our DNA and how they influence gene expression.

Genes are like songs in a music library, and epigenetics selects the unique playlist of genes for each cell type.

Gene expression influences physical health, mental health, behavior, and how we interact with the environment.

External factors like air, food, and social interactions affect epigenetics and impact health outcomes.

Epigenetic research has grown thanks to the genetic revolution, including the mapping of the entire human genome.

Epigenetics, not just genetics, plays a role in disease development, often overlooked by medical science.

Technologies like 'cut and run' and 'cut and tag' allow researchers to study single cells and how genes are selected.

These technologies offer insight into diseases like cancer by studying malfunctioning cells at a deeper level.

Different people have different epigenetic profiles, which affects their response to treatments like cancer therapy.

Epigenetics has broad applications across fields like neuroscience, toxicology, agriculture, and embryology.

Understanding epigenetics can help prevent negative outcomes related to environmental factors and early life abuse.

Epigenetic changes can be passed down across generations, as seen in trauma survivors and their descendants.

Life choices such as therapy, exercise, and diet can reverse negative epigenetic outcomes and improve health.

Epigenetics empowers individuals to take control of their health and influence future generations through lifestyle choices.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

have you ever wondered how two

genetically identical twins can be so

drastically different

and what about how your everyday

lifestyle choices can potentially

increase your risk for developing

diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's or

diabetes

and what about how traumatic life

experiences can affect the way you

navigate personal relationships and

manage stress decades down the road

thankfully epigenetics can help answer

how all of this works

so to break it down into simpler terms

Epi means upon while genetics is the

study of your genes and your DNA

so epigenetics is just a word used to

describe the changes that happen around

our DNA

you can think about it like this the

human genome your entire collection of

your genes is like a music library and

each song in that library is a gene

just like how each song in your music

library has its own unique individual

meaning to you that uniquely impacts you

our genes do the same thing

and just like how different people

Express themselves with different styles

of music

our cells Express themselves with

different kinds of genes

and this is where epigenetics comes in

epigenetics is what creates that unique

playlist of genes for each cell type

and this control creates a very powerful

influence on your biology because how

your genes are expressed affects how

your cells work which affects how they

interact with one another

which affects your physical health your

mental health your behavior how you

interact with others and how you

interact with your environment

you can think about these biological

factors like their characters in a

musical

and while each character plays a

different role of varying importance

unified music they come together to tell

a story that is unique to you your

health and your personality

but it's not just a one-way Street it

doesn't just go from your genes to your

cells up through to your behavior and so

forth but the external Factor so the air

you breathe the foods you eat the people

you interact with the everyday decisions

you make

all feeds back down and changes your

epigenetics which can also change your

physical health and your mental health

so these external factors they're kind

of like the instruments in a musical and

while you don't see them during the show

they're still changing and impacting the

overall message of your story too

so epigenetics has been studied for the

last few decades but the explosion and

Catalyst for its explosion has been the

genetic Revolution so not too long ago

scientists completely mapped out the

entire Human Genome and with this major

Milestone accomplished many of the

scientific and medical communities

thought that the answers to finding all

disease cures could be found in our

genes where we're quickly finding out

that this isn't the case because

epigenetic mechanisms are also involved

in disease development but they're often

overlooked

epigenetics actually can help us answer

a lot of different questions across

different fields of science

so what makes somebody more naturally

resistant to a strain of covid whereas

somebody else when exposed to the same

strain ends up hospitalized

and what about crops why is it that some

crops survive drastic environmental

changes while some might perish more

quickly

the rise of epigenetics and epigenetic

Technologies has brought about some

really exciting and Innovative

Technologies used to study epigenetics

and improve potential treatments for

cancer and all kinds of diseases

and the difference of epigenetic

Technologies over genomic Technologies

is that they tell you how genes are

getting selected

so with genomic Technologies they kind

of tell you like what song is being

added to the cellular Library

but knowing which Gene is involved a

disease or which song is not enough we

also need to understand how they're

getting selected for diseases and that's

what epigenomic technologies offer us

and while there's some really great

Technologies out there two of them are

called Cut and Run and cut and tag

and some of these advantages are that

they work with a very small number of

cells and they can be modified to study

as little as one single cell at a time

so think about that for a second one

malfunctioning cell is all it takes for

cancer to develop

and now we have the ability to study the

unique processes happening in that cell

that lead to the development of cancer

some of you may know somebody who is

battling or has battled cancer before

you're probably aware that not everybody

responsible to certain treatments right

this is because different people have

different epigenetic profiles

and by using these new technologies we

can start to develop treatments that are

more individualized more precise and

more effective for people who just don't

respond well to the conventional

treatments available

but the potential applications of

epigenetics don't stop there whether you

study Neuroscience toxicology Immunology

agriculture drug development embryology

it's so crucial that we start applying

these techniques because they can help

us start to unravel the Mysteries

surrounding how our biology our

environments and our experiences all

interact to shape living things every

day

by understanding how these epigenetic

processes work

we could potentially prevent or reverse

the negative outcomes associated with

early life childhood abuse

we could potentially understand how

environmental factors and toxicants in

our environment impact our health and

development and find ways to prevent

those negative changes from happening

we can even potentially cure devastating

diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's

and by the way the amazing thing about

epigenetics is it doesn't just affect

you and those around you but scientists

have found that it can be passed down

across Generations too

so for example survivors of traumatic

experiences like the Rwandan Genocide

and the Holocaust A lot of those people

develop PTSD as a result of those

terrible experiences and then their own

children who had not gone through that

experience in their lifetime also showed

symptoms of PTSD and had higher levels

of cortisol the stress hormone

so parents grandparents and future

parents keep in mind

that your life experiences don't just

end with you

but there's a potential of passing those

down to Future Generations too

but don't worry because you can pass

down good experiences too and the beauty

of epigenetics is that you can change

and you can adapt

and you can actually take control of

your epigenetics reverse those negative

outcomes by doing things like going to

therapy exercising eating healthy taking

medication

and isn't that so powerful that these

decisions you make in your life can make

such a massive impact in your biology

and gives you that control to better

yourself

and so my hope for you all today is that

your curiosity about epigenetics has

been ignited

for those of you that are in science I

hope that this inspires you to apply

epigenetics research to your academic

studies and your lab work

and for most of you who are probably not

in science I hope this makes you want to

learn more about epigenetics in general

and the next time you find yourself

sitting in your car listening to your

favorite playlist

take that opportunity to reflect on your

lifestyle

feel empowered by your choices and

decide to take control of that cellular

playlist by living your healthiest best

lives for yourself and for future

Generations

thank you

[Applause]