A Quick Introduction to Epigenetics - with Nessa Carey

Epigenetic modifications change the likelihood of gene expression, and through it create phenotype changes, without altering the DNA sequence itself.
Watch the full talk: • What is Epigenetics? -...
Nessa's book "The Epigenetics Revolution" is available for purchase now - geni.us/dOYAo
Nessa Carey is a geneticist and author of The Epigenetics Revolution. She has a degree in Immunology, PhD in Virology, was a post-doctoral researcher in Human Genetics, and a senior lecturer at Imperial College London in Molecular Biology. She's also spent 10 years in the biotechnology industry and now works in the pharmaceutical sector.
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[@dismissing]

I clicked on the video as soon as I read "Nessa Carey". Epigenetics Revolution deserves its well-regarded place in the pantheons of Pop-Sci Literature.

[@glennstasse5698]

What a great lesson reducing such a complex topic to understandable bits! Terrific!

[@KyleClements]

After watching videos on the topic off and on for about 5 years now, and feeling utterly baffled, this was the clearest description of epigenetics I've ever come across. Thank you!

[@dirkbertels3872]

Excellent introduction to epigenetics - accessible to most of us, and for those who want to know more, inspiring enough to warrant further investigation.

[@bernardofitzpatrick5403]

Great explanation - and a bonus was the humor ! :-D

[@toued4714]

Thank you for releasing this

[@taotaostrong]

Enlightening and empowering. Thank you!

[@eToLiveIsToDie]

That was a brilliant way of illustrating. Loved it.

[@BaalFridge]

I, an idiot, finally understand the concept of epigenetics. Thanks.

[@arbez101]

Great! Please tell us what you have learned.

[@BaalFridge]

It's candies changing my DNA depending on variables that are not predetermined by DNA! In all seriousness I didn't understand the concept of DNA "editting itself on the fly", but now that I can see it as "candies protecting me from alcohol poisoning" it makes sense.

[@rudmanpaul2812]

Mind is blown

[@levicoffman5146]

Oh my god everyone! Human beings are amazing!

[@missionpupa]

basically, most of the time you dont really know what you are capable of, the only way you can know is if you change your environment, your habits and your thinking.

[@alejandrahuertarivas4370]

She's brilliant, I'm a fan ❤

[@recklessroges]

How are epigenetics transferred between generations? (Can a parent only transfer the epigenetics that they inherited + mutations? )

[@arbez101]

Review findings by Dr Bruce Lipton.

[@kevinshort3943]

I thought they weren't reliably , and even if they are it's lost in a few generations if the condition that cause them change.

[@WorthlessWinner]

Maybe there will be a longer video of this lecture discussing that topic? From what I've read, in mammals the marks are erased when sperm and egg are formed and also shortly after fertilization, so it is unlikely that marks are passed on directly. However, they can be indirectly passed on because the marks might change the way the adult behaves toward the child or the way their womb reacts to the fetus which could expose the child to an environment that establishes similar marks. In other species like worms, the erasing of marks doesn't seem to happen, so marks can be passed on more directly in them.

[@Popcats230]

Excellent explanation Thank you !

[@chriswalford4161]

Is there an epigenetic effect of mood (depression, for example)?

[@arbez101]

I would have to say of course there is, in as much as mood is (directly or secondarily) effected by the process of gene expression.

[@mgd8867]

Posture can effect the hormone system which I suppose is similar

[@pgh412east]

How can i get mine to switch off... It's on now for drugs. What would take it off

[@arbez101]

I think she indicated dietary repetition can tigger gene expression, therefore habitual consumption behavior (whether food, alcohol, candy, or drugs) presumably can fuel gene expression. So switching off the consumption would have to precede switching of the gene expression, I should think.

[@pgh412east]

@@arbez101 thank you.

[@aareebjamil8929]

First! I loved the insightful speech/video and I hope you keep it up.

[@brinx8634]

There is something here that I don't understand. If a particular gene that breaks down alcohol is permanently switched off, what happens when alcohol is reintroduced? Would it take more to get to a drunken state? Can all be switched off, and what would be the result?

[@akankshapendharkar1387]

I think a gene like that probably wouldn't be permanently switched off, only regulated for quantity. If that does happen, alcohol metabolism will become very difficult and it might even become toxic. I don't think any environmental stimulus would really lead to switching it off permanently, as the enzyme produced won't have a negative effect on the body in the first place. The switching off would be likelier if a particular mutation in the genetic code manufactures a dangerous enzyme. I might be mistaken, this was my understanding

[@MrRobertFarr]

How funny.

[@ManMountainManX]

TY. ..

[@akutenshi7023]

Nice

[@Palatineoffacts]

Dat diamond necklace tho

[@TheHellogs4444]

How do you guys notice that shit

[@lizziesangi1602]

Gin brings forth Uncle Ernie....

[@lorenzobarbano]

I'm hungry now...

[@MrRobertFarr]

Yes this Ri video. Is making me hungry. I think it's the picture of sweets.

[@angelahall4402]

I didn't know it was a race. Lol

[@TWJfdsa]

DNA what a wondrously designed molecule

[@billschlafly4107]

Based on the evidence DNA was designed by nature.

[@TWJfdsa]

@@billschlafly4107 lol- even biologists now say it appears there is design in DNA- although they say it appears- Gods creation is marvolous....

[@kevinshort3943]

@@TWJfdsa No they don't, at least not in the way you are implying. Why are creationist unable to tell the difference between a simile and a synonym?

[@WorthlessWinner]

It's not really the DNA but the other parts of the cell interacting with it that create this complexity.

[@WorthlessWinner]

@@kevinshort3943 - tbh I have heard biologists argue that DNA seems too well designed. Which is one reason they say it is a product of evolution rather than a product of non-evolutionary chemistry pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23601635/

[@michaelbird7113]

Lost me, so slow.

[@dylangergutierrez]

First

[@bluellamaslearnbeyondthele2456]

Waste of time. Too basic. 8 year olds might appreciate this all the more because of the marshmallows. Anything for a mature audience?

[@sbalogh53]

I am a mature 66 year old and found this explanation most enlightening, so definitely not a waste of time for me. I am sure a Google search for "Epigenetics" would turn up many more "mature" results.

[@WorthlessWinner]

I wrote an article for my student newspaper trying to explain epigenetics for a general student audience and struggled a lot to get the main point across. I think this is a very effective analogy for that purpose. The big picture is far more important than the nuances which differ from species to species, aren't fully understood and don't alter the implications. She even includes some details that are left out of some academic journal articles that use "mature" language (e.g. the number of histone tail marks and their combinations, the structure of neucleosomes, the difference between constitutive and non-constitutive heterochromatin and their purposes, etc.) but does so with the simple concrete model of sweets.

[@MrRobertFarr]

No, it's really advanced. Jelly tots, and 'switched off, forever'. Genetics is really advanced, I ask you. If it's so easy for you to understand. Now humans know this. How differently should folks behave. Now, we know about genetics?