{"id":59929,"date":"2009-12-02T12:11:48","date_gmt":"2009-12-02T17:11:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marksdailyapple.com\/?p=9417"},"modified":"2009-12-02T12:11:48","modified_gmt":"2009-12-02T17:11:48","slug":"environmental-toxins-and-gene-expression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/59929","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Toxins and Gene Expression"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"toxicIt\u2019s the heart of the Primal Blueprint<\/a>: understanding that our lifestyle factors direct influence the expression of our genetic code. While the DNA itself is set, the structure fixed, that\u2019s hardly the end of the story \u2013 our story. How we live \u2013 even where we live<\/a> \u2013 holds significant sway over the final picture. And by picture I mean, of course, the picture of our genes\u2019 activity: when proteins are produced (and how much), when or whether certain genes are turned on or off. This activity, researchers are increasingly finding, is key in the development \u2013 or avoidance \u2013 of any number of conditions like Parkinson\u2019s, Alzheimer\u2019s and cancer. Rather than a predetermined formula simply set in motion in the womb, our genes demonstrate a much more complex, nuanced interplay. The sum of all our daily choices and exposures direct our epigenetic signaling and the course laid out by that ongoing sequence of gene activity. As I\u2019ve said<\/a> many a time, our original genetic heritage doesn\u2019t design our physiological fate. How we live determines how our genes play out their hand. No doubt a powerful concept, the comprehension can take us by surprise. The quickly expanding field of epigenetics has, indeed, rewritten old school genetics. It\u2019s even ruffled a few feathers here and there, but isn\u2019t that always the case with new breakthroughs?<\/p>\n

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As scientists study the physical principles (e.g. methylation, etc.) behind gene expression, they\u2019re also able to examine what in the environment incites the switch flipping, so to speak. Of course, our bodies are in constant interaction with any number of influences in our environment. We take in air, food, and water \u2013 as well as the extraneous substances contained in them. We use medications and personal hygiene products. We lick the adhesive to seal an envelope. The list goes on and on. A few months ago members of the National Academies met for a workshop entitled \u201cUse of Emerging Science and Technologies to Explore Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying the Developmental Basis for Disease.\u201d (Check out the full program online<\/a> for yourself.) The workshop was part of the Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions initiative and standing committee within the National Academies. In a nutshell, the group focused on the demonstrated influence environmental toxins exhibit on gene expression<\/strong> as well as the impact this evidence should have on public education and regulation of these substances.<\/p>\n

Compounds that may not appear dramatically or immediately harmful on a cellular level nonetheless trigger significant havoc on an epigenetic level, throwing off normal methylization patterns and causing the dysregulation of microRNAs, which direct gene expression. Among the implicated substances presenters highlighted were tobacco carcinogens, asbestos, ionizing radiation, arsenic, nickel, cadmium, benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs \u2013 components of common air pollution). Early\/in utero exposure to these chemicals appears most destructive. As one presenter noted<\/a> (PDF), in utero exposure to PAHs, for example, has been identified as a significant \u201crisk factor\u201d for childhood asthma. Although in utero exposure has been identified as a particularly \u201ccritical period\u201d for epigenetic impact, it doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re out of the woods as soon as we\u2019re out of the womb. Researchers are examining the possibility of other \u201ccritical periods\u201d and emphasize<\/a> (PDF) the ongoing vulnerability to epigenetic alteration throughout life. The real problem with exposure to many of these substances isn\u2019t the immediate impact on cells but the previously unseen changes to genes\u2019 subsequent activity throughout an individual\u2019s lifetime.<\/strong> Genes are silenced and lose their ability to manage the production of proteins for ongoing cell function and repair. Others are activated when they shouldn\u2019t be. The resulting complement of abnormal down-regulation and overexpression can set the stage for cancer, metabolic disease and neurological impairment. Researchers have already begun to identify epigenetic changes that foretell cancer development<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to follow how this conversation continues to unfold in the scientific and public policy arenas. Although these issues aren\u2019t exactly at the forefront of the mainstream media or public classrooms, the information is out there. Individual knowledge is personal power. While scientists continue their research and officials from every sphere wrangle over the public implications of these findings, we can start making decisions in the here and now. Just as negative experiences and exposures have the ability to instigate damaging epigenetic changes, our positive efforts can support normal epigenetic patterns by providing the healthy conditions our bodies expect and by counteracting the environmental challenges our modern bodies encounter each day in traffic, in our food supply, in the stress of work, and so on<\/strong>. Eating a clean diet<\/a>, minimizing emotional tension<\/a>, exercising smartly<\/a>, and supplementing wisely<\/a> can go a long way to reducing our exposure to modern toxins<\/a> and offsetting their influence.<\/p>\n

Let me know what you think. Send your comments and questions. Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n

Get Free Health Tips, Recipes and Workouts<\/a> Delivered to Your Inbox<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/h4>\n

Related posts:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Dear Mark: Gene Expression<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Gene Expression: Location, Location, Location<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Epigenetics and Depression<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It\u2019s the heart of the Primal Blueprint: understanding that our lifestyle factors direct influence the expression of our genetic code. While the DNA itself is set, the structure fixed, that\u2019s hardly the end of the story \u2013 our story. How we live \u2013 even where we live \u2013 holds significant sway over the final picture. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}