Epigenetics
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:46 pm
Hi,
I just watched a really interesting programme about identical twins with the same genetics/DNA etc. The programme was about epigenetics and how the enviroment can switch genes on and off which can lead to one identical twin suffering from a disease i.e lukemia or Type 1 diabetes and the other twin not suffering from it. Because they share the same genes there is an enviromental factor (either from the womb-life experiences) that changes the epigenetics.
If anyone knows about the epigenetics in MS I would be really interested in knowing more.
I have started looking at the prevelance on MS in identical twins but cannot find that many studies.
I was just wondering as well that if there is an enviromental trigger which leads to a gene being turned on or off in MS that would suggest that maybe our enviroment and the way we live could perhaps also have an effect on deactivating the gene in question.
L
I just watched a really interesting programme about identical twins with the same genetics/DNA etc. The programme was about epigenetics and how the enviroment can switch genes on and off which can lead to one identical twin suffering from a disease i.e lukemia or Type 1 diabetes and the other twin not suffering from it. Because they share the same genes there is an enviromental factor (either from the womb-life experiences) that changes the epigenetics.
If anyone knows about the epigenetics in MS I would be really interested in knowing more.
I have started looking at the prevelance on MS in identical twins but cannot find that many studies.
I was just wondering as well that if there is an enviromental trigger which leads to a gene being turned on or off in MS that would suggest that maybe our enviroment and the way we live could perhaps also have an effect on deactivating the gene in question.
L