In this video, Janine LaSalle, PhD, a faculty member at UC Davis, explores the fascinating world of epigenetics and its implications for human wellness. She breaks down complex scientific concepts such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and how environmental factors like diet, stress, and exercise influence gene expression throughout life. Dr. LaSalle discusses how understanding these mechanisms could open doors for innovative treatments and lifestyle interventions aimed at improving overall health and adapting to environmental changes.
Quick insights
- Epigenetics explained: epigenetics involves modifications on top of the DNA sequence, influencing how genes are expressed in response to environmental cues.
- Impact of environment: factors like diet, pollution, stress, and infections play a role in shaping our epigenome.
- Adaptability of the human body: our epigenome allows us to adapt to environmental changes within our lifespan.
- Biomarkers and the future: epigenetic biomarkers are emerging as potential tools for monitoring disease risk and biological age.
- Intergenerational epigenetics: environmental exposures may affect multiple generations, leading to a deeper understanding of health risks and potential interventions.
Featured expert: Janine LaSalle, PhD
Janine M. LaSalle, PhD, is a distinguished researcher in the field of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Her primary research focuses on nuclear organization, chromosome behavior, and DNA replication in mammalian cells. She is particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms of parental imprinting and the epigenetic variation of DNA methylation in human T cell clones, utilizing advanced techniques like fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.
Dr. LaSalle’s work bridges the gap between genetic and environmental factors that influence neurodevelopment, particularly in rare genetic disorders such as Rett Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, and Dup15q Syndrome. Her lab also explores the complex etiologies of autism spectrum disorders. Committed to addressing health disparities, especially in perinatal life, Dr. LaSalle is developing epigenetic biomarkers to promote early interventions that can improve long-term health outcomes.
Video highlights
00:00 – Introduction
Dr. LaSalle introduces herself and the topic of the session, which focuses on the role of epigenetics in wellness. She explains that epigenetics refers to the information located on top of DNA, which determines how genes are expressed. Using an analogy to a coral reef, she explains how epigenetics provides additional layers of information on how our body responds to environmental cues throughout different stages of life.
01:00 – Why should we care about epigenetics?
Dr. LaSalle highlights the significance of epigenetics in helping us adapt to our dynamic environment. Unlike the traditional view of adaptation occurring over long periods, epigenetics shows how our bodies can adapt over shorter timescales, such as when we change our diet or exercise routine. This discovery underscores the influence of our daily choices, environment, and lifestyle on our health outcomes.
02:00 – Learning objectives
Dr. LaSalle outlines the learning objectives for the session. She plans to discuss the basics of epigenetics, the evolution of the field, its current state, and where it’s headed in the future. A key focus will be on the environmental aspects of epigenetics and the emerging clinical tests that may soon become available.
02:54 – What is epigenetics?
Epigenetics refers to the heritable and reversible modifications to nucleotides or chromosomes that don’t alter the DNA sequence but can change gene expression. Dr. LaSalle delves into the multi-layered nature of the epigenome:
- DNA methylation: the first layer, where a methyl group is added to the DNA helix, influencing gene expression.
- Histone modification: histones are proteins around which DNA is wrapped, and their modification can make DNA either tightly packed (less expressible) or more open (more expressible).
- DNA organization: the way DNA is structured within the nucleus also affects gene expression.
- RNA regulation: recent discoveries reveal that regulatory RNA plays a more active role in gene expression than previously thought.
06:04 – The history of epigenetics
Dr. LaSalle shares key milestones in the history of epigenetics, starting with parental imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation, tissue-specific gene expression, and environmental effects on genes. She discusses how X-chromosome inactivation in females played a pivotal role in advancing epigenetic research.
She uses the example of calico cats, whose varied fur colors stem from different X-chromosome activation patterns, to explain how gene expression differs in humans. She also highlights Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting brain development in girls, to show how gene expression can vary even in individuals with the same genetic mutations, such as twins where one may express the disorder and the other may not.
08:30 – Epigenetics and rare genetic disorders
Dr. LaSalle delves deeper into how her lab studies epigenetic mechanisms in rare disorders like Rett Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, and Dup15q Syndrome. She explains how these conditions are linked to specific epigenetic changes and how understanding these mechanisms can help in the development of targeted therapies.
10:50 – Environmental influences on gene expression
Dr. LaSalle discusses the impact of environmental factors, such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins, on epigenetic modifications. These changes can influence gene expression and may be passed down to future generations, further illustrating the importance of environmental factors in health and disease.
13:30 – Clinical applications of epigenetics
The session moves toward the clinical implications of epigenetics. Dr. LaSalle talks about emerging tests that could help identify epigenetic markers for disease risk, enabling preventative measures and personalized treatment plans. She also mentions the development of epigenetic biomarkers for use in prenatal care to reduce health disparities.
15:20 – Future directions in epigenetics
Dr. LaSalle concludes by looking ahead to the future of epigenetics, predicting advances in personalized medicine and early detection of diseases through epigenetic markers. She emphasizes that while the field is still evolving, the potential applications for improving public health are vast.
Resources
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