Epigenetic Research - 756 Words

The penchant for analytical thinking and the scientific system was prevalent in my upbringing, a by-product of being born to two scientists. Therefore, when I began working on epigenetic research on Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) at Saint Louis University, I felt comfortable around the slow, systematic approach studded with jargon heavy language. I was excited to experience molecular biology, to work in the same kind of labs I’d visited as a child. When I applied to the job, FSHD was words linked to the epigenetic status of the D4Z4 sequence. In other words an abstract concept. That was the extent of my understanding until I met a 13 year old FSHD patient. If epigenetic changes are the result of environmental factors or†¦show more content†¦Volunteering at the HRC gave me the opportunity to interact with patients from varied socioeconomic, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Every weekend I grew more comfortable navigating the diverse waiting room, wh ether by using my polylingual background to learn key words of Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Mandarin, or seeing how far a smile and eye contact could go. Years of involuntary practice as the â€Å"agony aunt† for my friends prepared me as an empathetic listener, a skill I employed to ensure the clinic’s visitors received the most comprehensive care. One incident stands out in my memory. Hep A vaccine, I assisted the patient with the phone, I noticed his eyes glazing over between pressing each digit on the phone. Within seconds I would have to wake him and repeat our conversation. That five-minute interaction with him made it clear that the man was far beyond the simple sleep-deprivation he believed it to be. The physician I brought in determined that the man probably suffered from narcolepsy, and I worked to connect him to the appropriate groups and for transportation. It struck me that the man had gone through the entire clinic, received a vaccine, and no one had been able to interact with him long enough in the frenzy of a weekend clinic. He showed me that while medicine did rely on exciting equipment and sophisticated techniques, sometimes a friendly conversation was enough to start making the difference in one man’s health. That direct interaction withShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Epigenetics And Genetics, Research Of Epigenetics, And Diseases Associated With Epigenetics Essay773 Words   |  4 PagesRole of Epigenetics The research of epigenetics has evolved from the twentieth century from two scientists including Conrad H. Waddington and Ernst Hadorn who combined genetics and biology. There was an interest in this study in the 1990s. Research has evolved trying to figure out the changes caused by epigenetic mechanisms. This field is growing as researchers are unraveling environmental and lifestyle influences on genes (Epigenetics, n.d.). This paper will discuss differences in epigenetics and geneticsRead MoreEvaluation Of A Research Technician At The Center For Epigenetic Research927 Words   |  4 Pagesyou earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June, please indicate your plans for the upcoming academic year. I have been working as a research technician at the Center for Epigenetic Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since last June and will continue to do so for the upcoming year. My research involves examining the epigenetic changes that occur in cancer progression. Using techniques such as Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and Assays for Transposase Accessible follow byRead MoreEssay about What is Epigenetics and How Can It Effect Me?772 Words   |  4 PagesBefore conducting research and watching numerous informational videos on epigenetics, I would have never believed that when my grandmother was my age, she made dietary decisions that have affected me. 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The intrauterine environment can have short and long term effects on the health and future disease state of offspringRead MoreThe Theory Of Maternal Age And Its Influence On The Risk Of Autism Essay1278 Words   |  6 PagesIn order to reduce the number of children affected by this disorder, we need to first understand what causes it. Researchers have been working diligently over the years, but the exact mechanism of what causes autism is still unknown. The extensive research has been able to rule out factors that do not contribute to autism and has made advancements in possible causative factors. As of right now, it appears that the source is possibly multi-factorial, just like the disorder. Theories that are believedRead MoreBiochemical Approaches On The Import Of Genetics Essay925 Words   |  4 PagesSociogenomics: Biochemical Approaches to Study the Import of Genetics in Social Behaviours Literature Review Sociogenomics is a relatively new research area that isn t very well understood. 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Waddington â€Å"Epigenetic Landscape† 1939, which was followed up and expanded on by Dr. Adrian Bird and Danny Reinberg (1975~) we know that it does exist and it has far reaching implications for future development in medical research and biological development fields. ï‚ § Risk assessment ï‚ § Prevention ï‚ § Progression analysis ï‚ § Prognosis and biomarker development Epigenetics ~ is the term coined to explain a variety of â€Å"bizarre† phenotypic phenomenaRead MoreBehavioral Epigenetics : Biological Heredity And Nurture1428 Words   |  6 Pagesothers do not? Behavioral epigenetics examines how nurture shapes nature, where nature refers to biological heredity and nurture refers to everything that occurs during the animal s lifespan. Epigenetics is the study of alterations in an organism caused by modifications of gene expressions instead of alterations of the genetic code itself. Behavioral epigenetics is the field of study, which analyzes the role epigenetics have in shaping human or animal behavior. Epigenetics works by wrapping DNA aroundRead MoreThree Main Pathways Of Epigenetic Modification1783 Words   |  8 PagesEpigenetic Modifications in Cancer Scientists have known for several decades that cancer may be caused by mutations in the DNA of cells. These mutations may result from exposure to certain substances (e.g. radiation, benzene) or they may occur spontaneously in the process of cell division, especially in the context of aging. Recently, researchers have discovered another level of inherited cellular information separate from the genes themselves. Epigenetics is the study of modifications to genes