What is Epigenetics? - with Nessa Carey

Why your DNA is not your destiny. Molecular biologist Nessa Carey presents an introduction to epigenetics and explains how it shapes life.
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Nessa's book "The Epigenetics Revolution" is available for purchase now - geni.us/dOYAo
DNA is a vitally important starting point for life, but it's how it's used by cells and organisms that is really important. Epigenetics is a rapidly moving field that has transformed our understanding of how one set of genes can create the masterpiece that is each of us. It's also leading scientists into unexpected and exciting areas such as new ways to treat disease, understand drug addiction or unravel the lifelong consequences of early childhood trauma.
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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[@drewfisher1619]

She is an amazing educator. I am grateful to be able to access high quality lecture like this for free.

[@dannyholley]

Imagine the world we'd craft for ourselves if all science was communicated so brilliantly and unpretentiously. Bravo.

[@rael6974]

Daniel Holley agreed

[@zaimahbegum-diamond1660]

Daniel Holley 🍷. Drink to that.

[@RobinObinray]

Imagine the world ww'd craft for ourselves, if we just understood that our physical reality is a collective subjection/egregore structure

[@TheJoaovicente]

The problem is that not enough people are hearing it. The communicator is not the problem

[@Ancor3]

This has to be one of the most interesting presentations I've seen in a while. Absolutely fascinating.

[@gracegwozdz8185]

The most boring presentation. Boring verbal diarrhea and the poor woman is totally confused as to the meaning of Epigenetic. What saves her is the cute accent. She is trully the product of Rockefeller education system. Sad.

[@Pseudify]

@@gracegwozdz8185. Well that’s a rather pretentious comment, given that she is an expert in epigenetics. Perhaps you would care to enlighten us with your wisdom on where she went wrong?

[@elenif.vlachou9126]

@@Pseudify david it seems worthless showing any sort of interest in these comments since it only demonstrates her mindset..or rather choice of one.

[@letmecomentalready]

I'm here after reading her book "The Epigenetics Revolution" to learn about possible updates in the field since it came out a few years ago. I would highly suggest the book to anyone as I had no background knowledge other than high school Biology and yet every chapter would blow me away.

[@cerambyx-8]

The 8 proteins are histones and form a protein complex known as a histone octamer, which is spool shaped (marshmallows were used in the demonstration). The 8 proteins in the histone octamer are actually 2 copies of 4 proteins, H2A, H2B, H3 and H4. DNA wraps around the histone octamer known as a nucleosome and they form chains like beads on a string making up chromatin. A nucleosome can be defined as a small length of DNA wrapped around eight histone proteins. The key difference between chromatin and nucleosome is that chromatin is a whole structure of complex DNA and proteins while nucleosome is a basic unit of chromatin. The beads on a string make up something called euchromatin or open chromatin that is enriched in genes and active under transcription (transfer of genetic instructions) which is why it is so important in epigenetics and changes in the phenotype (physical traits- e.g. appearance).

[@bonniebabird]

Finally! we have an exciting, summation of information about this field! Thank you for posting. Best explanations, clear analogies and diagrams I've ever found .I've been interested in this field for many years, though no longer a formal student. This great video brings me up to date.

[@arijkhan3706]

I absolutely have to watch this again and again. She has few equals in terms of clarity and lucidity. I am going to forward this to my entire family. One of the most interesting topics explained by one of the best presenters.

[@sihintas5336]

Amazing lecture! She takes complicated information and breaks it down into interesting info using jokes, history, stories, movies and more! Brilliant!

[@Dr10Jeeps]

Wonderful talk! I can't get enough of these Royal Institution lectures.

[@mariusciobanu2025]

This is absolutely incredible! I'm completely floored.

[@marcusraad9708]

You make it so easy to absorb! You're an amazing professor! Thank you!

[@Slava-om1sz]

This was the the biggest eye opener for me in the past years. This knowledge opens so many doors.

[@deloriseconover1476]

Absolutely brilliant presentation. I just wanted to learn a little for my pathophysiology class and left amazed!

[@TheAIEpiphany]

Superb presentation skills! Just the right amount of humor, story telling and information transfer to resonate with almost everyone.

[@Enonymouse_]

Fascinating subject, i'd never heard of this subject before. Props to the lecturer for giving such an entertaining lecture on a complicated subject! I hope you have her back again.

[@CFB6855]

What a great presentation. Loved it!

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

Thank you for the very fascinating and lively lecture! I love it!

[@tafrinadubois2290]

fantastic delivery of a fantastically fascinating subject -- thoroughly enjoyable, especially being a twin myself.

[@agnishadatta715]

Such an amazing talk ma'am..really really loved it to the core...

[@calebsmit9731]

We really need epigenetics to advance as a civilization, some might even say it's... nessacarey

[@annanoel-roduner6402]

Yes - but we need the right stimulus; and that can come only from the WORD of GOD, found in the Bible. We could easily deteriorate into barbarism, especially if we start copying animals, instead of reminding ourselves that we are made in the image of GOD.

[@tjclarke238]

Eyes Open!

[@AshleyNichole123]

Caleb Smit I see what you did there 😂😂😂👍

[@jg4392]

Amazing

[@letmecomentalready]

Well done

[@edurbrow]

So well done. Answered questions I didn't know I had.

[@aniccadance13]

Thank you for uploading. Very interesting☺️

[@betulipekozturk8056]

I'm currently reading 'Junk DNA' and I can assure you that it is really informative and it doesn't bore you. As a first-year medical college student, it is really helpful to visualize the epigenetic differentiation. Examples she gives are hilarious.

[@an-tm3250]

God does not make junk. Scientists don't know it's purpose so it is automatically relegated to the junk heap.

[@hanskloss7726]

Fascinating. Interesting material and very well done presentation.

[@lucasmin3757]

What a BRILLIANT educated and informative video, love it!

[@blackdiamond3296]

Thank Nessa, it is my pleasure to attend your tutorial today at MCRS

[@KIMMYSSONG]

Extraordinary lecture, thank you. blessings, Kimmy

[@renupathak4442]

How fortunate that I in india can access this extraordinary lecture delivered so well and generously sprinkled with humor. Great contribution to science education. Have her books which are so precious for me

[@eloisegibson2010]

I really enjoyed this talk thank you

[@TreyPrankz]

SO intriguing! How the things, habits, nutrients we do now can genetically modify our future progeny!

[@George_Varvoutis]

Extremely clarifying presentation, her book is also a gem of science communication...

[@andrewsheehy2441]

Really good - packed with interesting insights and good for the RI to tackle what is admittedly a controversial topic.

[@figueiredolamofopa]

Outstanding presentation. Very clear. Congratulations!!!!

[@dalelund3100]

What an incredible communicator. Science needs many more with her skill.

[@ayetreyyy]

Reading her book now after watching this a few months ago! Brilliant and exciting literature! Epigenetics is such a fascinating field! This is telling us how we can affect our future progeny!

[@Anonymous-zy3lh]

Name of the book?

[@ayetreyyy]

The Epigenetic Revolution by Nessa Carey@@Anonymous-zy3lh

[@JurijFedorov]

She destroys it. Good talk. Her book gets a bit complicated at times but this is spot on.

[@engjoliesoleil4571]

thank you for sharing

[@arunsinghamahapatra2918]

First time i am watching her. Today I purchased her book " The Epigenetics Revolution. Not my subject. But i have interest. Happy to watch. Thank you Madam. Regards

[@JackT13]

Her book, The Epigenetics Revolution, is fantastic by the way.

[@keithcorodimas8093]

First-rate presentation on this topic. Thanks very much.

[@35sherminator]

What a spectacular lecture!

[@EMPNETWORKS]

excellent video to describe epigentics, its a subject i wanted to write on next for my blog.

[@vazap8662]

What a brilliant lady!

[@BartvandenDonk]

Fascinating, fascinating, fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.

[@user-ey4rc5tu4t]

thank you so very much. This is wonderful. I am glad to say I was wrong.

[@67lomeli]

Excellent; thanks for your great work.

[@sagarupreti2029]

Its really a great lecture never had idea management student can enjoy science.

[@shamthorani464]

all i can give to this lady is 🙇 Respect! amaizing

[@anilsalick]

Outstanding presentation

[@ernestorojo885]

A great way to transmit knowledge

[@everlearnercaveman3990]

Interesting topic, delightful presentation.

[@rohitchat5538]

Amazing teaching learning knowledge about the modification and genetic codes sequence of genome 🙏🙏👏👏❤️❤️💐💐

[@lxMaDnEsSxl]

Its all actually very simple to understand when you grasp what is actually occurring in terms of epigentics and how we are products of evolution - genetics and events - what we do and what is done to us

[@kevinmerrell9952]

An awesome presentation.

[@jace8575]

Great delivery

[@DocSeville]

Well worth the listen! Thank you mame

[@lilianamendez9041]

Just wonderful! 🧬

[@markbricklin3096]

Great lecture!

[@sabersubrati2898]

She's great ! ❤️

[@matthewandremink3726]

I would very much like to hear professor Carey's view on the mRNA vaccines and their potential influence on the human epigenetics!

[@jackt3356]

Great talk

[@KipIngram]

Great presentation. And she's just a natural. Very entertaining. 🙂

[@ahimsa79]

Wow, really enjoyed this lecture. Any sociological/psychological applications or assumptions linked to these findings? ie, poverty, oppression, consistent trauma etc...

[@rael6974]

Will be buying her book

[@davidbroadfoot4214]

well done and entertaining presentation on the topic of epigenetics

[@anananwar]

So much to love about this. Even all these years later rewatching it still give me all those uh-huh feelings.

[@frankboase4362]

Fantastic, Love the energy your brought to your book The Epigenetics Revolution" I wonder if you can see the link between Epigenetics and Buddhist Karma. (They are both very deep matters) Any Buddhist's out there pls read this and think....

[@samuelgoodman2770]

Absolutely love her x

[@ComfortLining]

The DNA code starts from the same then the coding changes but the DNA coding is all the same in the start of the code. Example is like computer coding. Code DNAMOMDAD then add on EYESLASHES or DNADADMOM Liver etc etc. It's so damn AMAZING

[@estherganzon6700]

THANK you now I kind of get it

[@stellahypnotherapist1420]

Brilliant Thanks

[@patrickboudreau3846]

What a great woman !

[@krtdhi7007]

This was so interesting . Thank you very much

[@sihintas5336]

I'd love her as a professor for all my bio classes

[@barneydefanfaler4760]

EXCELLENT

[@RoniTaylorWatson]

fantastic - thank you so much for posting

[@kbeetles]

Brilliant talk, engaging presentation..... - i feel for the mice, though.....

[@Pyriold]

Great video! I can imagine that practical living advice can come from epigenetics, like how i can change my own in a positive way. Any chance to get that?

[@Stabacs]

Hmm, for example if you don't smoke, your epigenetics for requesting more nicotin don't get switched on and your kids probably won't smoke either. Does this answer your question?

[@xapemanx]

brilliant

[@vitaliy8]

Thank you for great presentation! Ive been thinking about one question. In the "bullied" mouse experiment epigenetics were not transmitted but in cherry blossom smell, the fear was transmitted to offspting due to epigenetics. Is that a contradiction that in some cases environmental quality gets passed in others not?

[@claritas6557]

One of the best speakers I've seen on this channel. We need more sweets-based analogies in scientific discourse.

[@christopherdahl992]

Andri Eiríksson something with chocolate in it would be nice.

[@gracegwozdz8185]

She is long-winded and boring.

[@altareggo]

This is EPIC!! Lamarck is partly vindicated, but that's the least of it. We are more "adjustable" than we realized before, and some of these adjustments can be passed on to the next generation. LOTS to think about, even for the ordinary person in the street who wants their offspring to be healthy and talented.

[@TheJamesRedwood]

Always love a new RI video, always get annoyed about the huge difference between the sound level of the title credit and the lecture itself.

[@TheRoyalInstitution]

We've actually fixed this! We hope. For the last month or so, we've been making sure that the volume of the ident is less than half of what it was before. This video is slightly older so will still try to blow your eardrums out, but hopefully you won't run into this with any of our newer stuff. Do let us know if it's still too loud though.

[@zoha1616]

Links to the research studies mentioned?

[@marilynvillanueva7333]

We need more real scientist dedicated to discover and instructs and inform us broadly . Thank Madam

[@Sublimeoo]

Crocodiles and Dinosaurs share a common ancestor, crocs are not descended directly from dinosaurs. Brilliant talk, especially your dna analogies

[@anonymousfigure37]

If for whatever reason molecular biology doesn't work out for Nessa Carey, she can surely do well as a stand-up comedian! Very entertaining and enlightening talk!

[@audreylane8747]

Her explanation about stress and childhood experiences is interesting. I was very fortunate because I had a pretty stable, happy childhood with a protective father who thought I was a piece of gold and a loving mother who was a great nurturer. Even though I was overweight and constantly bullied, I retained my happiness and confidence that has allowed me to be successful in my career and personal life. I am married to a great person, but have noticed that he is usually depressed and insecure. His sister has finally admitted that out of 6 siblings, he was given the least amount of attention and praise and was often criticized. This was needed information for me as his spouse because I can now understand why he rather that I remain overweight. When I lost most of my weight, my husband would exhibit jealousy and insecurity. He would retreat into his den, and not talk to me. Now that I have lost my mobility, my husband seems happy which I find hurtful, but with theory, I have learned that he feels empowered because he feels no one will find me attractive and he can now be the only person I can depend

[@complexelectra]

Emotional abuse and neglect to keep you overweight to maintain his own well-being. Understanding his behaviour should not excuse it.

[@lovinglife3847]

It would be interesting to know what foods could turn on or turn off gene expression in humans and the outcome of the change.

[@cielitolindoseniorliving]

🪄✨ Made with SummarizeYT ​0:49 - The human genome sequence was first released in 2001, causing a huge hoopla. ​2:03 - Epigenetic phenomena have been known for a long time but were not given much attention. ​3:00 - Laboratory mice with the same genetic background can have different weights due to epigenetic factors. ​5:01 - Gender in crocodiles is determined by the temperature at which the eggs develop, not genetics. ​6:01 - Different cell types in our body have the same DNA code but exhibit different characteristics. ​8:08 - Epigenetics plays a crucial role in gene expression and can be influenced by external factors. ​12:00 - Epigenetic modifications can switch genes on and off, leading to different gene expressions. ​14:00 - Epigenetic modifications can be compared to different flavors of jelly tots, introducing flexibility in gene expression. ​16:15 - Epigenetic modifications can also compact DNA, permanently switching off gene expression. ​17:27 - Epigenetic modifications can go wrong and contribute to diseases like cancer and diabetes. ​19:01 - Children who have experienced abuse or trauma in their childhood are more likely to develop chronic diseases later in life. ​20:07 - Epigenetics can influence what happens in organisms without altering the DNA sequence. ​20:42 - Baby rats that are loved and cared for by their mothers have low levels of stress hormones. ​22:03 - Epigenetic modifications in rats can be passed down from generation to generation. ​24:01 - Epigenetic information is necessary for mammalian reproduction. ​26:41 - Epigenetic changes can result in significant differences in physical characteristics, as seen in agouti mice. ​30:03 - Mice can learn to associate a smell with something negative, and this fear response can be passed on to their offspring. ​31:43 - Lamarck's theory of acquired characteristics is not entirely accurate, but epigenetic changes can be influenced by the environment. ​34:01 - Trauma experienced by male mice can be passed on to their offspring. ​35:05 - Epigenetic changes can affect the offspring's physical characteristics, as seen in the experiment with female mice. ​36:03 - Identical twins can have different outcomes due to epigenetic changes.

[@Explorerlora]

All I want to do right now is eat strawberry laces and jelly tots.....on a serious note, this lecture was FASCINATING - thank you Nessa for your fabulous energy teaching this

[@PeppoMusic]

Oh no! Your exposure to the video (environmental factor) has changed your mental content, which could change your behaviour which could change your epigenetics, which could change the future of your offspring? Good grief this rabbit hole goes deep...

[@lilysunshine3447]

Does anyone know if algorithms were used to define theoretical epigenetic research concepts individually and where to find the results? Im into pattern recognition.

[@bomaite1]

Are the 8 proteins in the nucleus of the same composition in everyone, or are they widely differing?

[@rizalmaludin]

Awesome

[@jaxnean2663]

Got her books

[@bomaite1]

How do you determine if a characteristic is truly determined epigenetically or if there is some other factor, like the chemicals given off by gut bacteria, or some changes triggered by viruses, or some other mechanism I can't think of just now?

[@thebestme4486]

Wow, she is brilliant!!

[@gracegwozdz8185]

Out to pasture!

[@petertvp8039]

Would a babies/child’s dna receptors be affected/changed by a traumatic birth experience? Ie would a more ‘relaxed’, non stressfull/traumatic birth experience have a better outcome for a child later in Life?

[@teemadarif8243]

Actually I wouldn't say it's a new field of biology but rather one we just found out about lol ... super interesting

[@rickt1866]

please tell me it's evolution maybe I'll try harder at buying into this time.. dna code with switches hmm what kinda systems use that kinda programming/. in a few years will they be building bodies from scratch ?