Definition: It is the study of inherited changes in the phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. These changes may remain through cell divisions through the remainders of a cell's life, and may also last for multiple generations. It is non-genetics factors that make the genes behave differently.
Okay, why am I talking about this. The field of epigenetics is very new, it is actually the new project that will happen now that the human DNA sequencing is finished. It is believed to be more important and exponentially more difficult to map out epigenetics. But, let me explain why I am talking about it. As they begin to study the field of epigenetics one thing that is a common theme throughout is how much impact our nutrition has not only on ourselves, but potentially on generations to come. Yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to say.. not only you will impact your own health by your healthy food choices, but now, the study of epigenetics is proving that you can impact generations to come. And not just what you eat while you are actually pregnant, but what you eat since you are born and throughout your life will be passed down to your children, and to your grandchildren!
It is a complicated genetic process, with lots of big words to explain. But basically your genes get "tagged" with methyl groups, sort of "on or off" switches based on different environmental exposures.
Let me give one concrete example so you can understand this better. They looked at women who were pregnant living in NYC during 9/11 attacks, and how they suffered stress and fright. Now, these are outside environmental factors that affected their genes. Their flight response, their "stay alert", and on watch genes were tagged on. And their babies were all born with those symptoms, they were much more alert babies, they were more irritable babies, and made up children who were much more "jumpy", and on edge.
Now, one more reason to breastfeed :) , they also found those same characteristics in babies who were not breastfed, they lacked the sense of safety and nurture provided by breastfeeding mothers.
There some information about this field of epigenetics that we've known for a while, for example, that having a diet rich in folate and B vitamins is extremely important for women who want to have children, their direct impact on methylation of genes or lack thereof can impact the next generation profoundly.
If I were 10 years younger and in another path, I would be in a lab studying this stuff! It will change the way we provide nutrition advice and the way we eat. We will one day be able to have nutrition advice specific to a person's gene expression, and we'll have a way to prevent cancer and other life threatening diseases by simply adjusting our diet and lifestyle.
This webiste has very cool reading material on this: there is a really cool example about a Bee's Royal diet! read on...
http://http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/nutrition/
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