Epigenetics and in utero Radiobiological Effects

["Mike Grissom" <mpg1@coastside.net>]

radsafe'ers,

Andy Karam recently sent an inquiry on in utero radiobiological effects
to radsafe. A problem that muddies the waters regarding possible effects
at levels of environmental insult below those that result in DNA
sequence changes (such as single and double strand breaks) is the
issue of epigenetic effects. A recent review article on this subject may be
of some interest to those following the debate (abstract shown here):

-----

 "Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that
  occur without a change in DNA sequence. Epigenetic phenomena
  have major economic and medical relevance, and several, such as
  imprinting and paramutation, violate Mendelian principles. Recent
  discoveries link the recognition of nucleic acid sequence homology
  to the targeting of DNA methylation, chromosome remodeling, and
  RNA turnover. Although epigenetic mechanisms help to protect
  cells from parasitic elements, this defense can complicate the
  genetic manipulation of plants and animals. Essential for normal
  development, epigenetic controls become misdirected in cancer
  cells and other human disease syndromes."

-----
Citation: Wolffe, Alan P., and Matzke, Marjori A. "Epigenetics: Regulation
Through Repression." Science, Vol. 286, No. 5439, 15 October 1999,
pp. 481-486, www.sciencemag.org .

Ciao,

MikeG.

Michael P. Grissom
Email:  mikeg@slac.stanford.edu
Email:  mpg1@coastside.net



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