/r/epigenetics
The study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.
In biology, and specifically genetics, epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype, caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – hence the name epi- (Greek: επί- over, above, outer) -genetics, some of which have been shown to be heritable.
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/r/epigenetics
What is known about how epigenetics contribute to sexual orientation?
Hi everyone,
I am trying to optimize the RRBS protocol in lab. We are experiencing an issue with MspI digestion and subsequent size selection with BluePippin (size selecting for 100-220 bp.)
We use about 600-1000ng of genetic material when we start. We've tried MspI digestion for anywhere from 16-22 hours, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.
After MspI digestion, we ran the sample on a 0.7% agarose gel and we found that there was smearing, but it looks like a very low amount around the 100-200 range. This leaves very little material for sequencing downstream.
Has anyone else experienced this issue, and knows get more material when size selecting?
Hi epigenetics,
I'm investigating changes in epigenetic lendscape on cancer upon treatment, that then drive the chemioresistance.
We have some time points in which we investigate cells with ATAC and CUT&TAG but in your opinion, to have a better understanding of the tumor epigenetics before and immediately after the treatment (24h), just to have a global idea of what is occurring epigenetically, which technique I should apply? Bisulfate conversion? Mass specrtometry on histones? What do you suggest? Thanksss
I heard once about a study that went something like this: Some animals (daphnia?) were experimentally stressed and their epigenetic marks reflected that state. Then, either within those individuals over time, or across generations, at some point the organisms went through a period where the epigenetic stress signature was "erased", but then the signature came back later. It implied that the information about the stress state was stored elsewhere and got re-imprinted into the epigenetic marks.
Is this real? Could someone help me find it? Edit: typo
29F In the last few years I’ve been demonstrating PTSD symptoms including dreams, images/impressions, and panic attacks and dissociation triggered by topics of child s**ual abuse and certain touches during intimacy. The thing is, I’ve never experienced CSA; my parents, however, both have. In fact, on my mother’s side it goes back multiple generations. Could this sort of reaction/experience be the result of epigenetic trauma?
Please don’t mention repressed memories, I’ve been down that rabbit hole and don’t want this discussion to become about that.
I’m sorry if this is not the appropriate subreddit for this but I really wanted the opinions of those who are more knowledgeable about epigenetics. Thank you in advance for any insights.
Are epigenetic changes generally permanent or transient? Is there a way to undo them? Take post finasteride syndrome as an example, the the leading theory is that this is caused by epigenetic changes. Can these be undone? Sorry if this seems like a silly question just trying to understand
I’m reading Yuval Noah Harari’s book Sapiens and I have a rudimentary pondering that I’m wondering if it feels even remotely scientifically supported If Homo erectus was the most durable human species, lasted 2 million years and was the species that could best adapt to the cold environment… could we then surmise that humans surviving for generations in hot desert climates will be the ones best equipped to survive climate change?
Hi has anyone computed the methylclock R package clocks. It's relatively straight forward but the thing is, is that I haven't been able to interpret the age and age acceleration estimates of the clocks because I still don't really understand each clock, having read the papers and computed the estimates. What do they actually show and so I understand Horvath hannumm and kinda phenoage and grimage, but what about DNATL (how is this different to normal telomere length measurements), what about Wu et Al's clock. You know...BLUP clock. Any videos or good resources or simple explanations would really help... Thank you
Currently working on my Master’s thesis and am really confused by this. My project is on differential methylation associated with exposure to a water pollutant. The DNA was extracted from tissue from the maternal side of the placenta after birth for 10 subjects. 5 subjects had high pollution exposure and 5 had low pollution exposure.
Whose methylome am I looking at here? Mother or baby? Both? What about the paternal genome, where does that come in?
Does the entire placenta have the same genome and methylome? Or is it different on the maternal side and fetal side?
Please help me 🫠
Currently working on my Master’s thesis and am really confused by this. My project is on differential methylation associated with exposure to a water pollutant. The DNA was extracted from tissue from the maternal side of the placenta after birth for 10 subjects. 5 subjects had high pollution exposure and 5 had low pollution exposure.
Whose methylome am I looking at here? Mother or baby? Both? What about the paternal genome, where does that come in?
Does the entire placenta have the same genome and methylome? Or is it different on the maternal side and fetal side?
Please help me 🫠
Micronutrient testing is a blood lab test that is a comprehensive nutrient analysis that measures functional deficiencies at the cellular level of a persons nutritional status.
It’s interesting because you can have the blood test done and it will say what foods one should avoid as the test could show what may be causing health problems. It can tell if you have genetic predisposition, cardio risk and looks at cellular nutrition.
It’s such a strange things because generally our diet is the cause of most diseases. Yet we live in a world where it feels complicated and difficult to eat foods that help us.
I have been trying to understand this link between nutrition and epigenetics more (if you have any resources let me know)… but I also have a question, does intuition play an important role in epigenetics?
What kind of procedure could change epigenetics in an adult?
Not sure if this is the place but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on books on epigenetics for the lay person? I have no science background so texts books are out of the question really but I’m interested in epigenetics and would love to learn more about it. Thanks in advance
Both of my parents never drank. I have definitely struggled with abstaining from a drink and have teetered on the edge of being an alcoholic myself. I know my grandma on my mums side was an alcoholic and had similar mental health issues.
Does it skip a generation? How does that process work? Is it that I didn’t grow up with the (deterring) effects of alcoholic parents to nurture abstinence tendancies ?
Hi, I am currently taking an epigenetics course and have been looking for a question bank. I need practice questions to test my understanding. I have not found any, if you know where I can find one please do tell. Thank you.
I thought about thisthis morning and was curious if anyone else have had this thought. I personally do believe there’s is an actual link here which could potentially solve a lot of our mental health issues, religious disputes, and other social interactions we have with one another on a daily basis. This is more of a brainstorm thread so share away
I'd like to know whether epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, histone acetylation, etc.) cause changes in gene expression or are caused BY changes in gene expression.
I.e., does it go "mark gets placed --> gene expression changes" or vice versa?
Is this topic discussed in the field?
Any papers on the topic would be greatly appreciated!
Hey fellow science enthusiasts! 👋
I'm in the process of developing a teacher workshop dedicated to high school biology teachers, with a special focus on epigenetics. One aspect of the workshop will revolve around discussing epigenetics in the popular press and why it's vital not to get carried away by all the hype.
Now, I need your help! I'm on the lookout for some of the most ridiculous and over-the-top popular press articles about epigenetics that you've come across. Whether it's wild claims, pseudoscience, or just plain outlandish ideas, I'd love to see them. Share the titles, links, or even just describe the articles, and let's have a good laugh (and maybe learn something valuable in the process)!
Your contributions will be invaluable in shaping this workshop, so thanks in advance for your help. 🧬📚
I just learned that generational trauma is basically handed down from the moms side, and that the fetuses genetic expression can be altered from the mothers emotions while pregnant (please correct me if that’s wrong).
In that case, that just sounds like the simplest way to explain generational trauma.
My mom is a first gen student, comes from a Chinese household, her dad immigrated from china in the early 1900s obviously for better opportunities here.
My grandparents were able to put my mom and my aunt through a 4-year big 10 university.
I’ve always seen my mom as very hard working, almost to the point where she’s a workaholic. She isn’t tho, she is just a perfectionist with her work. Besides her being Asian, I feel like the need for perfection comes from educational experience. Had to study super hard to maintain good grades, needed a certain gpa, all of that.
My mom has always told me Cs get degrees and as long as I pass, she won’t care what my grade is. I think that’s bc she doesn’t want me to experience the same stress she did, BUT I DO😭😭 except I don’t get good grades from my hard work.
Anyways, I feel like I inherited the stress that was put on her during her childhood + early adult years. I inherited adhd from my dad, so school has never been my interest. It gives me physical pain to sit down and do it, but once I am sat, I have the perfectionism that my mom has. I make sure my work sounds sophisticated, I’ll do extra work that was unnecessary to add in, stuff like that. I don’t like doing it, but I am not satisfied until I do it. Again, I hate school (sorry Malala) and I’m not a scholar in disguise. I am not the smartest! But I still find myself being extra like my mom.
I definitely kept repeating myself, I also get that from my mom lol
Also please lmk if this is the wrong subreddit! :)
So for example they say epigenetic is activation and non activation of your genes. If some group from the middle east lives in very low uv climates for long generations would develop lighter skin in a couple generations but a west African group doesn’t really have any light skin allelles so wouldn’t they never get effected and have to wait for random mutations since they don’t really have any alleles in their genome already programmed for that.
Hi everyone! I'm looking for a well-written review that could function as an introduction to the field, something that explains what epigenetics is. (Everything I found is either too old, or too specific to be an introduction). Obviously I need something that could be used in an academic setting, so no wikipedia. Also unfortunately I cannot use textbooks :( Something that is as wide-ranging as a textbook but isn't one would be ideal. Thank you
I am currently applying to PhD's with programs focusing on epigenetics and neuroscience . I am hoping to study epigenetic regulation within the brain, focusing on epigenetic changes regulated by environment or imprinting.
Would anyone suggest any labs/programs' which would fit my interests ?
I've been eying the David Allis/ CSHL epigenetic second addition textbook for a while now. I'm still an undergrad but I really want a hardcopy of it, where would there be cheap alternatives to the 140$ amazon price?
So I am about to start on a PhD working with every single epigenetic clock known to man and also I will be generating some of my own clocks, however I am really not familiar or good with statistics to know how to conduct data anlaysis when I get methylation data. Is there a guide/video/book/tutorial on how to conduct bioinformatic and statistical analysis in accordance with epigenetic clocks, or teaches you how to use R packagaes. If not, then what statistical methods do I need to get my head around in order to understand it so I can embark on my PhD.