BIO 346 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Methylated Dna Immunoprecipitation, Cpg Site, C. H. Waddington
Document Summary
Epigenomics: the new tool in studying complex diseases. Identical twins - inherit exactly the same set of genes different characteristics, behaviors and/or predispositions to disease (epigenetic factors - influence which genes become active and when) Dna methylation & histone modifications - changes accumulate through a lifetime (inheritable) - plays a role in regulating transcription of genes. Histones - proteins around which dna winds when it is compacted into chromosomes, carry different chemical tags that can be altered to alter the extent to which dna is wrapped around (accessible) for gene transcription. Methylation - methyl group added to histone tails (cytosine residue) 5-methylcytosine. Cut up dna, apply antibodies, purify, label w/ fluorescent tag, dna microarray w/ probes. Environmental exposure during development and throughout life chemically modify dna and the proteins bound to it. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate many biological processes: i. e. , cell division and differentiation (involved in many diseases, including cancer, etc. )
