IDENTICAL TWINS: PINPOINTING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON THE
EPIGENOME
1. Often, the physical characteristics of genetically identical twins become increasingly
different as they age, even at the molecular level. Explain why this is so. (use the
terms "environment" and "epigenome")
A: Their environment affects their epigenome, causing their identical genes to differ.
2. Name 3 environmental factors that influence the epigenome.
A: Diet, physical activity, and exposeure to toxins,
3. What is an imprinted gene?
A: A epigenenitic tag passed on from one's parents
YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOUR EPIGENOME
1. Discuss factors in your daily life (ie. Diet, exercise, stress etc.) that could be affecting
your epigenome
A: I eat only organic food, and large amounts of helathy foods, as well as vitamins and disgusting heathy concoctions.
LICK YOUR RATS
1. Explain how a high-nurturing mother rat shapes her pup's epigenome, and what that
pup's response to stress will be.
A: A high-nurturing mother's rat pup will relax quickly after stressful situations because they have more GR protien, caused by the way their environment has shaped their epigenome.
2. In rats, does licking by the mother activate, or deactivate her pup's GR gene?
A: It activates it.
3. Explain how cortisol and the GR protein work together in the brain to relax a rat pup.
You may draw a diagram.
A: They bind together and cause it to relax.
4. The rat nurturing example shows us how parental behavior can shape the behavior of
their offspring on a biochemical level. Relate this to humans and think about the personal
and social implications. Record your thoughts.
A: If parental behavior shapes the behavior of their children, it would possibly hold the parents accontable for the behavior or conditions of their offspring. However, a "bad" childhood wouldn't nessasarily create "bad" (e.g., axe-murder inclined, ect.) behaviors or "bad" conditions (cancer, ect.)
UTRITION & THE EPIGENOME
1. Explain how the food we eat affects gene expression.
A: No nutrients= no development
2. Can the diets of parents affect their offspring's epigenome?
A: Yes
EPIGENETICS & THE HUMAN BRAIN
1. How does Dietary methyl influence gene expression ?
A: It affects learning and memory.
2. Why do Toxins affect gene methylation?
A: They trigger massive epigenic changes, which affects gene methylation.
