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Epigenes?

Eos of the Eons

Mad Scientist
Eos of the Eons
Joined
Jul 23, 2003
Messages
13,749
Why haven't I heard of this before, and even more importantly, why hadn't I heard that they hold the key to curing cancer? I mean a real cure... changing the genes back to normal so that they become human cells again, doing their jobs.

This is amazing! Not really any side effects! That is the only real way to CURE cancer, to get rid of the cancer cells, and better yet-make them go back to normal!

I'm really not sure if it can cure all cancers, as there are so many different kinds, and you would have to catch it early. But, in a recent study (I just watched this on Nova) 50% of the human test subjects are in remission! That is amazing for a newly discovered therapy. I'm trying to find online information on this, but coming up short. Any help?

We're finally getting somewhere in this genetics game, and it makes me very happy to know about, so I thought I'd share.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/observer/story.html?id=0e301579-a587-4825-961f-ee4eb4f690f9

There is also the realization that these epigenes are more easily changed than we ever thought possible. So, we now realize more than ever that bad behaviour (smoking, eating poorly) is the reason for our long-term health problems. It may even affect future generations (a mouse study showed that epigenes suppressed in a mother mouse caused the effect in her consequent offspring as well).

This also explains susceptibility to things like autism. The epigenes are affected, and maybe we can now figure out how for what disorder.
 
Just this evening, I was watching a show on PBS called Nova Science Today and they had a segment about this very thing. First I had heard of it as well. Very interesting stuff though.
 
Yes, that is the mouse study :D

Now we just need the human cancer cure trial.

Genetics is revolutionizing medicine. Man, what I wouldn't give to be a researcher right now.
 
The problem with epigenetics is not removing methylation from 'broken' genes, but removing methylation from 'broken' genes in such a way that it does what you want. IIRC, most demethylase drugs are far from target specific - meaning, anything and everything is demethylated. Needless to say, this is fairly fatal to a cell.

Epigenetics is a really interesting subject. "Cures for cancer" aside, we have things like imprinted genes, epigenetic regulation of genes, and more.
 
kellyb said:
I don't know much about genetics...but is this almost akin to Lamarckian evolution???
Click to expand...

In part, it is a bit Lamarckian I guess. A lot of epigenetic changes are always made the same; see imprinted genes for an example of this. However, environmental factors can make changes to your epigenome, and these can be passed on to your children. The problem to understanding all of this is that we don't really even understand the basic examples - that of imprinted genes - so we can't yet say how the environment effects our epigenome. It really is an exciting field.
 
I just want to say that every time I see this word I hear it in my head like the name of a dead Greek philosopher... E-pij-e-neez.
 
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