NOVA’s Ghost in Your Genes Name:
Answer the following questions as you watch the video
1. Do you inherit anything other than genes from your parents?
2. What is the name of the process that switches genes on and off?
3. What type of mice did scientists study to investigate gene expression?
4. What is the name of the vast network in the body that controls gene expression?
5. What does epigenetics mean, literally?
6. What do skin, eyes, teeth, hair and organs have in common?
7. All of your cells contain the exact same genes. So, what makes your cells different?
8. How did researchers turn off an overactive agouti gene in mice?
9. What links early stage development to disease susceptibility?
10. What might be a reason why the epigenome changes?
11. How do nurtured mice compare to non-nurtured mice? What might me some human implications of this?
12. In what gland is the gene that lowers stress hormones found?
13. How did Drs. Szyf & Meaney change the epigenome of a rat?
14. List some things that stress hormones promote?
15. List causes of genetic damage.
16. What are stem cells?
17. Fill in the blank: The events that happen in one generation can affect another ______later.
18. The ______supply can affect a transgenerational response.
19. The Human Epigenome Project will tell us how genes are ______.
20. Why must you be a good steward of your epigenome?
21. HOW can you be a good steward of your epigenome?
22. At the heart of epigenetics is the realization that environmental influences can turn on and off genes. Conventional biology describes that our inheritance is set in stone at conception when the egg and sperm fuse, where genes remain unchanged and experiences are never inherited. However, epigenetics challenges this view. Describe how! Give specific examples.
23. How does the presence of stress and/or poor nutrition in a pregnant woman affect her child and future generations?
24. Food deserts are defined as parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This has become a big problem because while food deserts are often short on whole food providers, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, instead, they are heavy on local quickie marts that provide a wealth of processed, sugar, and fat laden foods. What are the implications of food deserts from an epigenetics viewpoint?
25. Zoning regulationscan be used to limit or banfast foodoutlets in certain areas of a city, restrict the number offast foodoutlets in a city overall, restrict the density offast foodoutlets in a given area, or regulate the distance betweenfast foodoutlets and other sites such as schools or hospitals. How can epigenetics be used as a weapon against certain groups?
26. How should we prevent the use of epigenetics as a weapon against certain groups?
27. How might pesticides cause problems along generational lines?
28. What diseases today are thought to be controlled by epigenetic switches?
What happens when genetic codes meet zipcodes?
Answer free response questions below after the video.
1. What is epigenetics?
2. The program raises some social and ethical implications regarding epigenetic effects. While scientists still don't know exactly what affects the epigenome or how it may be passed down to future generations, if lifestyle choices or environmental effects are passed down, describe what you would consider changing about your current lifestyle for the benefit of any potential children you may have?
3. How certain would you need to be that your epigenome was being affected before you make the change? Why?