In: Nursing
1. Although three major types of epigenetic modifications have been identified, specific environmental or nongenetic factors can cause epigenetic modifications. Identical twins have essentially the same DNA sequences; however, aging and significant lifestyle differences cause changes in:
types of epigenetic modifications
> DNA modification
> histone modification
> Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) or mature miRNAs
> specific environmental or non genetic factors, such as diet
and exposure to certain chemicals can affect epigenetic
>compare methylation and other signatures of epigenetic modification in identical (monozygotic) twin pairs, because their DNA sequences are essentially the same As twins age, differences increase in methylation patterns of the DNA sequences of somatic cells
DNA methylation
> accumulated large numbers of differences in methylation
pattens.
> Became different as a result of epigenetic changes, which in
turn affect gene expression
> finding generated in animal studies suggest that changes in
epigenetic patterns may be an important part of the aging
process