[olsen]

(article seems a bit of an overgeneralization about parenting to me--though interesting findings--feel the info is impt. and know several posters/theorists who will agree. madelyn)

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/56139/

News:
Early stress alters epigenome
Posted by Jef Akst

Scientists have figured out how stress experienced early in life can cause long-lasting changes in physiology and behavior -- via epigenetics.



Specifically, early stress appears to induce epigenetic changes in a specific regulatory region of the genome, affecting the expression of a hormone important in controlling mood and cognition into adulthood, according to a study published online today (November 8) in Nature Neuroscience.

This is the first study to depict a molecular mechanism by which "stress early in life can cause effects that remain later in life," ...

Stress endured early in life can influence the quality of physical and mental health in adulthood, such as by causing hormonal alterations associated with mood and cognitive disorders. But until now, scientists did not understand the mechanism by which early life experiences can produce such long-lasting effects.

According to a common hypothesis, the environment affects mental heath by causing alterations to the physical properties of the genome that influence gene expression -- the epigenome. Indeed, research suggests that DNA methylation, one of the most intensely studied forms of epigenetics, may explain why maternal care has a long-term influence on behavior and hormones in rats...


"Essentially the genome memorizes that [early life] stress," said Szyf, who was not involved in the study. "Stress changes methylation, and that stays the whole life."

The researchers further determined that the decreases in methylation in stressed mice result from the inactivation of a protein known as MeCP2, which is involved in the initial recruitment of proteins that methylate the DNA.

The concept that social states in early life can affect health in later life is "a completely revolutionary idea," ...

Treatments for reversing the effects of early life stress should begin as early as possible, Spengler said. Reversing the inactivation of MeCP2 might be possible, but "once [methylation] is laid down, you cannot erase [it]," he said. "This is a mark that is very stable." Treatments given later in life, then, must find ways to ameliorate the phenotype, such as by blocking AVP receptors in animals with higher AVP levels, he added.

[olsen]

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57132/


Mapping methylation
Posted by Jef Akst
[Entry posted at 3rd February 2010

With the Human Genome Project largely complete, scientists are turning to variation in the epigenome and beginning to map chemical modifications of DNA that affect gene expression. Two recent studies that provide the first comprehensive maps of human DNA methylation -- one of the most commonly studied epigenetic modifications -- and a new initiative that aims to generate 1,000 more are a testament to this new focus in genetics research.



In the first direct comparison of the DNA methylation patterns at two different stages of differentiation in a single cell line, published online today in Genome Research, stem cell systems biologist Jeanne Loring of the Scripps Research Institute and her colleagues detailed how methylation changes over the course of development.

The changes were "much more subtle and clever than I would have imagined," Loring said. "Some [regions] remain methylated, some become demethylated, some become methylated," and these changes can occur in "certain genes, certain parts of genes, and certain things that aren't genes," she added. "I can't imagine that any of that is not important." ...

.. .In addition, "beyond how stem cells are programmed, understanding how genes change in response to their environment is of obvious importance," Ecker added. For example, some studies "show that the changes in the epigenome are affected by things like diet and obesity/hunger." But to understand such effects, he said, "first you need to map these marks."

Loring is already working on the next map -- that of a young neuron...

"Epigenomes are changeable, programmable and will feed us the bottom line on how the genome works," Rob Martienssen of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York told Nature yesterday.

[reverett123]

Sigh.....
It is so lonely out in front of the herd

[imark3000]

I totaly believe that very early trauma is the culprit for most diseases.
This has been elaborated by Dr. Janov's book "Primal scream" who was very popular in thee seventies. Please check:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primal_therapy
Imad

[olsen]

Rick, think you should print that on a t-shirt....madelyn

[paula_w]

Primal Scream- we need a smiley for that.
paula

[imark3000]

Originally Posted by olsen

(article seems a bit of an overgeneralization about parenting to me--though interesting findings--feel the info is impt. and know several posters/theorists who will agree. madelyn)

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/56139/

News:
Early stress alters epigenome
Posted by Jef Akst

Scientists have figured out how stress experienced early in life can cause long-lasting changes in physiology and behavior -- via epigenetics.



Specifically, early stress appears to induce epigenetic changes in a specific regulatory region of the genome, affecting the expression of a hormone important in controlling mood and cognition into adulthood, according to a study published online today (November 8) in Nature Neuroscience.

This is the first study to depict a molecular mechanism by which "stress early in life can cause effects that remain later in life," ...

Stress endured early in life can influence the quality of physical and mental health in adulthood, such as by causing hormonal alterations associated with mood and cognitive disorders. But until now, scientists did not understand the mechanism by which early life experiences can produce such long-lasting effects.

According to a common hypothesis, the environment affects mental heath by causing alterations to the physical properties of the genome that influence gene expression -- the epigenome. Indeed, research suggests that DNA methylation, one of the most intensely studied forms of epigenetics, may explain why maternal care has a long-term influence on behavior and hormones in rats...


"Essentially the genome memorizes that [early life] stress," said Szyf, who was not involved in the study. "Stress changes methylation, and that stays the whole life."

The researchers further determined that the decreases in methylation in stressed mice result from the inactivation of a protein known as MeCP2, which is involved in the initial recruitment of proteins that methylate the DNA.

The concept that social states in early life can affect health in later life is "a completely revolutionary idea," ...Treatments for reversing the effects of early life stress should begin as early as possible, Spengler said. Reversing the inactivation of MeCP2 might be possible, but "once [methylation] is laid down, you cannot erase [it]," he said. "This is a mark that is very stable." Treatments given later in life, then, must find ways to ameliorate the phenotype, such as by blocking AVP receptors in animals with higher AVP levels, he added.

madelyn and Paula
I see that this new research proves Dr. Janov's primal scream concept put forward 40 years ago !
Imad