Beyond DNA: Epigenetics and Lifestyle

Genes provide the foundation of life, but lifestyle determines the expression of that foundation

We learn that the DNA we get from our parents decides what we will be like and if we will be healthy. The DNA has all the information that our body needs to grow and work properly. This information is inside the genes; they tell our body how to make proteins. Just because we have a gene does not mean it is always working. The gene has to be turned on to work. This is called gene expression. It is like a switch that turns the gene on and off, just like a volume button that decides how much of something our body makes. Gene expression decides when and where the genes work. The genes and the DNA are like instructions for our body. They tell our body what to do and when to do it.

This understanding has led to the rise of epigenetics, a field that studies how chemical changes in cells control gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. These changes are known as marks and include things like DNA methylation, histone acetylation and microRNA expression. The study of epigenetics shows that genes are not completely fixed. We can't change the genes we are born with. We can affect how they work through our lifestyle and choices. Our environment and daily choices play a role in epigenetics. This field of study is helping us learn more about genes and how they work.

Evidence is mounting that lifestyle and environmental components play a significant role in influencing epigenetics. Diet, exercise, stress, smoking, alcohol intake, obesity, exposure to pollutants, and even night shift work can impact the expression of genes. For example, pollutants can raise the risk of cancer, and air pollution can cause asthma, but exercise and healthy eating can boost the power of the heart and brain. Thus, health and longevity are not only determined by genes but also by lifestyle. Genes provide the foundation of life, but lifestyle determines the expression of that foundation.

References:

Alegría-Torres, J. A., Baccarelli, A., & Bollati, V. (2011). Epigenetics and lifestyle. Epigenomics, 3(3), 267-277.