Nutrition, epigenetics and health

Abstract

Epigenetics-the basics Every nucleated cell in the human body contains approximately three billion base pairs (bp) of DNA and the DNA in each of these cells is exactly the same. The particular sequence of bases in the DNA for any individual was determined at conception and, except for monozygotic (identical) twins, each of us is genetically unique. From that fertilised egg onwards, at each cell division, our unique DNA sequence was copied faithfully to the next generation of cells. This means that each of our cells has the potential (the DNA blueprint) to make any of our proteins and to carry out any of our cellular functions. All cells express some genes in common i.e. the so-called 'house-keeping' genes that encode the proteins that are needed to maintain the basic functions of all cells e.g. transporting in oxygen and nutrients, generating ATP to fuel the work of the cell and exporting waste products. However, a liver cell is very different from a bone cell and since the work done John C. Mathers of Newcastle University explains how gene expression is regulated in the body and discusses how diet may induce heritable changes to the genome.