What Is Epigenetics?

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What Is Epigenetics?

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- Leona



For instance, evidence suggests that smoking and overeating can affect genes, causing those affecting obesity to become "switched on" and those carrying messages for longevity to become "switched off." That means that in addition to the self-harm that can come from eating too much or smoking, these lifestyle choices may predispose a person's offspring (and even future descendants) to disease and premature death.

In the past, understanding of diseases focused on the interaction among the genes we inherit (for diabetes, as an example) and our environment (like eating and exercise habits). But researchers have long puzzled about how the risks for, and frequency of, some conditions seem to change as quickly as from one generation to the next. After all, according to traditional genetics, major changes in the structure of the human genome only occurred over many generations or even thousands of years. But now, the concept of epigenetics is shedding new light on how such changes can occur much faster.

What This Means for Families

So is epigenetics just a topic of interest to scientists, or should it have an impact on the way we live now? Growing research seems to support the role of parental lifestyles and their (possibly permanent) effects on the health of their children, grandchildren, and beyond.


Scientists also are using the concept of epigenetics to develop new approaches to diseases with genetic roots. Drugs are now being produced that act by switching on or off faulty genes in epigenetic fashion. This type of genetic "quick fix" could be a very valuable strategy in the fight to prevent, treat, or cure a number of conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: January 2014

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