Epigenetics and disease

Question 1

Are epigenetic tags inherited?

Answer 1

yes

Question 2

How are epigenetic tags inherited?

Answer 2

It is thought during fertilization epigenetic tags are erased however some escape this and are passed onto off-spring

Question 3

How can epigenetics cause cancer?

Answer 3

By silencing tumour surpressor genes

or perhaps activation of a normally inactive gene.

Question 4

What is the link between methylation and cancer PT.1?

Answer 4

• researchers found tissue from cancer patients had less DNA methylation than normal tissue implying higher than normal gene activity

Question 5

What is the link between methylation and cancer PT.2?

Answer 5

• Regions of DNA that have no methylation in normal cells are often highly methylated in cancer cells causing usually active genes to be switched of.

Question 6

What is the link between methylation and cancer PT.3?

Answer 6

• can increase incidence of mutation

Question 7

How are certain diseases treated by epigenetics?

Answer 7

• inhibit enzymes involved in acetylation or methylation

- reverse effects of epigenetic diseases

Question 8

Other good uses of epigenetics?

Answer 8

• development of diagnostic tests that help detect early stages of disease like cancer.