Tag

Epigenetics

All articles tagged with #epigenetics

science11 days ago•5 min saved

DNA Methylation Switches Help Explain What Makes Humans Unique

A study comparing human, chimpanzee, and hybrid cells shows that cis-regulatory DNA methylation—driven by changes at CpG sites—primarily drives methylation differences between humans and chimps, with effects rippling to nearby sites. These epigenetic shifts correlate with human-specific traits in cognition, development timing, craniofacial features, and disease susceptibility, suggesting DNA methylation coordinates regulatory changes beyond gene expression to help define what makes us human.

via Indian Defence Review|

#cis-regulatory #cpg-sites #dna-methylation

health11 days ago•7 min saved

Vaccines Might Lower Dementia Risk Through Trained Immunity, Researchers Propose

A growing body of evidence links routine vaccines (including flu, shingles, RSV, Tdap, pneumococcal, hepatitis A/B, and typhoid) with lower dementia risk. A leading hypothesis is that vaccines train the innate immune system via epigenetic changes, enabling stronger, non-specific responses that may reduce brain inflammation and slow cognitive decline. While data from BCG studies and population analyses support the idea, the exact mechanisms remain unproven and require more research. If validated, this could broaden understanding of vaccine benefits beyond targeted pathogen protection.

via Ars Technica|

#dementia #epigenetics #health

health13 days ago•4 min saved

Regular arts engagement slows the body's aging clock, study finds

A UK study of 3,556 adults links regular participation in arts activities and attending cultural events with a slower pace of biological ageing, as measured by epigenetic clocks. Weekly engagement slowed ageing by up to 4% and was associated with about one year biologically younger compared with infrequent participation; effects are comparable to quitting smoking. The study shows association, not causation or guaranteed longer life, and underscores the potential health benefits of arts engagement.

via The Guardian|

#aging #arts #culture

science15 days ago•4 min saved

Hypergravity Reshapes Fruit Fly Biology—with Lasting, Generational Effects

UC Riverside researchers exposed fruit flies to 4–13G using a centrifuge for 24 hours or across 10 generations, then returned them to normal 1G. The flies kept their startle-triggered geotaxis but showed markedly reduced spontaneous movement at higher gravity, likely due to energy conservation and shifts in lipid metabolism. After return to 1G, 4G-exposed flies became briefly hyperactive, while higher-G flies recovered slowly with lasting locomotor impairments; multigenerational exposure caused even greater, enduring deficits. The findings suggest gravity exposure can induce lasting physiological changes, potentially epigenetic, with implications for artificial gravity design and astronaut health during space travel.

via Universe Today|

#drosophila #energy-metabolism #epigenetics

health24 days ago•5 min saved

Pesticide exposure tied to rise in early-onset colorectal cancer, study suggests

Spanish researchers report an association between exposure to picloram, a long-used weed killer, and higher rates of early-onset colorectal cancer, with tumors from higher-exposure patients showing fewer APC gene mutations and suggesting a potentially different cancer pathway. The study is observational and cannot prove causation, but findings raise questions about regulatory review if confirmed. Regions with greater picloram use also showed more cases, and the broader context notes the rising burden of colorectal cancer and a recommended screening start at age 45.

via New York Post|

#apc-gene #colorectal-cancer #early-onset

health26 days ago•54 min saved

Beating Heart May Halt Cancer Growth, Spurring Mechanical Therapy

A new study shows the mechanical force of heartbeats slows cancer growth by altering tumor cell gene activity. In mice and lab tissue, beating hearts reduced cancer proliferation and epigenetic markers linked to growth, with Nesprin-2 identified as a key sensor of heartbeat-induced forces. This points to potential mechanical therapies (like bands applying heartbeat-like force) or drugs that mimic the effect, though safety and timing must be established before human use.

via Live Science|

#cancer #epigenetics #health

science27 days ago•66 min saved

Cytoplasmic rivalry between parental pronuclei governs zygote epigenetic fate

Mouse zygotes rely on a cytoplasm-forced competition between the two separate parental pronuclei to limit their size and preserve key epigenetic marks (H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K27ac). In one-pronucleus biparental zygotes, this competition is absent, the pronucleus enlarges, epigenetic regulation becomes dysregulated, and development to term is reduced. The defects can be partially rescued by introducing a competing pronucleus, reducing cytoplasm, or using drugs (TSA) or KDM5b knockdown to restore epigenetic marks, linking pronuclear volume control to developmental potential. The findings have implications for assisted reproduction where 1PN zygotes are used, underscoring that far from being a mere fertilization artifact, pronuclear separation actively shapes embryonic viability.

via Nature|

#epigenetics #h3k27me3 #h3k4me3

science1 month ago•31 min saved

AP-1–driven memory enables adaptive cancer genome regulation

A Nature Perspective argues that cancer drug resistance can arise from adaptive cellular states learned by the AP-1 transcription factor network. By combinatorial AP-1 binding, stress-induced feedback, and epigenetic memory, AP-1 can reprogram the genome to create drug-tolerant states, effectively encoding a population-level memory that guides ongoing resistance and potentially informing broader biology beyond cancer.

via Nature|

#ap-1 #cancer #cellular-plasticity

lifestyle1 month ago•18 min saved

Dark chocolate’s theobromine linked to slower aging in humans

A study of about 1,600 adults found higher blood levels of theobromine, a compound in cocoa, linked to slower biological aging markers—lower GrimAge acceleration and longer telomeres. The association persisted after adjusting for age, weight, smoking, and even caffeine, and appeared strongest among former smokers. The work is observational, so it cannot prove causation, and researchers emphasize diet quality over chasing a single nutrient. They note the potential that theobromine enhances cocoa’s polyphenols, and call for controlled trials to determine causality and practical guidance on dark‑chocolate consumption.

via Earth.com|

#aging #dark-chocolate #epigenetics

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Sweeteners Leave Generational Footprints on Gut and Metabolism, Mouse Study Finds

A mouse study found that common zero-calorie sweeteners, sucralose and stevia, alter the gut microbiome and the activity of genes tied to metabolism and inflammation, with effects lingering into the second generation—more pronounced for sucralose. The research shows associations, not causation, and underscores the need for further human studies and moderation in consumption.

via SciTechDaily|

#artificial-sweeteners #epigenetics #generational-effects

nutrition1 month ago•10 min saved

Sweeteners Across Generations: Gut Microbes and Metabolism Affected by Sucralose and Stevia in Mice

A mouse study in Frontiers in Nutrition shows artificial (sucralose) and natural (stevia) non-nutritive sweeteners can alter the gut microbiome and gene expression related to inflammation and metabolism, with effects passing to a second generation: sucralose impaired glucose tolerance in male offspring in generation 1, and by generation 2, fasting glucose rose in male sucralose descendants and female stevia descendants, while both sweeteners lowered short-chain fatty acids and increased microbial diversity. The researchers caution that results in mice may not translate to humans and call for moderation and further study.

via News-Medical|

#epigenetics #generations #gut-microbiome

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Epigenetic Alzheimer's Drug FLAV-27 Reverses Memory Decline in Mice

Researchers report FLAV-27, a G9a/EHMT2 inhibitor, epigenetically reprograms neuronal gene expression to combat Alzheimer's pathology; in cell cultures, nematodes, and mice it reduced disease features and restored memory and synaptic function, suggesting a broader upstream approach beyond amyloid and tau. The compound has not yet been tested in humans and would require extensive safety and regulatory steps before trials.

via ScienceAlert|

#alzheimers #ehmt2g9a #epigenetics

science2 months ago•98 min saved

Epigenetic drift linked to brain aging in mice

A mouse study maps epigenetic changes in the aging brain, finding widespread loss of DNA methylation, activation of transposons, and chromatin remodeling that disrupts gene regulation, suggesting brain aging arises from a breakdown of epigenetic control.

via Live Science|

#aging #brain #epigenetics

biology2 months ago•16 min saved

Clone-ception Hits a Wall: Infinite Cloning Isn’t Feasible

Japanese researchers studying serial cloning in mice with the epigenetic modifier trichostatin A found that while many late-generation clones were healthy at birth, the lineage eventually hit a hard limit: by the 58th generation the clones survived for only a day. TSA boosted cloning success (about 5.4% at generation 51) compared with 1.6% without it, and over 1,200 clones were produced from a single donor. Each generation accumulated mutations (roughly 70 SNVs and 1.5 structural variants), and in some cases placental abnormalities were corrected in later offspring through sexual reproduction, suggesting that sexual reproduction helps purge deleterious mutations and that indefinite cloning remains biologically unfeasible for now.

via Gizmodo|

#biology #cloning #epigenetics

science2 months ago•76 min saved

Adaptability Is Humanity’s Superpower Shaping a World of Diverse Bodies

Live Science’s interview with Herman Pontzer discusses how humans’ remarkable capacity to adapt to varied environments is our species’ defining strength and driver of global diversity. Pontzer cites local adaptations (like enlarged spleens among the Sama, skin-color variation by latitude, high-altitude physiology) and explains that genetics and environment work together, with epigenetic effects potentially influencing future generations. He also outlines evolutionary mismatches between hunter-gatherer biology and modern, climate-controlled lifestyles, arguing that understanding this multilayered diversity helps counter misinformation and informs debates on health, diet, and vaccines. The conversation aims to equip readers with a toolkit to critically evaluate scientific headlines about the human body and its variation.

via Live Science|

#adaptability #epigenetics #evolutionary-mismatch