What is ‘epigenetics’?

Heritable changes in gene expression that does not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence; a change in phenotype without a change in genotype (“Fundamentals”).

What is the most interesting information you learnt from the documentary?

From the documentary, I learnt that there is another side to genetics aside from the human genome, epigenetics. Dubbed epigenetics are chemical markers along the DNA that control a person’s development by turning genes on and off. These markers vary widely for each person, and are influenced by one’s environment as well as experiences.

What responsibilities do you have to your grandchildren?

Just like genetic information, epigenetics can be passed down from generation to generation. Hence, what I do and experience today can impact the characteristics and health of my future grandchildren. Bearing this in mind, it is then important for me to adopt a healthy lifestyle, one that, for the most part, does not involve starvation, junk food, drinking and smoking. The change in epigenetics might not be immediately apparent in my next generation, however this is only because, as illustrated by the documentary, those changes tend to become increasingly visible two to three generations thereafter.

Works Cited

“Fundamentals.” What Is Epigenetics. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/&gt;.