Invitation to peter jones on epigenetics

How can diet during pregnancy influence disease later in life? I’ve heard of genetics but what is epigenetics ? How does epigenetics cause disease? How are identical twins different? What role does epigenetics play in diabetes, mental health and cancer? Nature or Nurture: Epigenetics links your genes with the environment Public Lecture with international guest: Professor Peter Jones PhD DSc “How the exploding science of epigenetics will transform our understanding of health and disease and Australia’s participation in it” Garvan Institute of Medical Research 6:00-7:30pm Tuesday 7 February 2012 Drinks and canapes will precede the presentationMedical research has come a long way since sequencing of the humangenome and we now have a deep understanding of genetics and why faultsin certain genes can cause specific diseases.But, not all diseases are due to simple gene faults and epigenetics can helpexplain why.Epigenetics is the master controller of the organisation of our genome,governing context-dependent packaging of our DNA and gene activity. Thisoccurs by chemical modifications to the DNA and to the proteins aroundwhich it is packed.These epigenetic modifications not only guide normal growth anddevelopment but also influence and reflect how our genes interract withthe environment, often with long-term effects on our health and wellbeing.Epigenetic controls can also malfunction and these underpin many complexdiseases including neurological diseases, cancer and diabetes. Moreover,changes to a person’s epigenetics can be passed on to future generationswhich means a mother’s diet during pregnancy can influence her child’schance of developing certain diseases later in life.Epigenetics is also important in learning and memory, something we areonly just beginning to understand. RSVP: a.giles@garvan.org.au or phone +61 2 9295 8110 by Wednesday 1 February 2012 Garvan Institute of Medical Research - 384 Victoria Street Darlinghurst - www.garvan.org.au Peter Jones’ Public Lecture is sponsored by the Australian Academy of Science, Rudi Lemberg Travel Fellowship

Invitation to peter jones on epigenetics

by Garvan Research Foundation on Jan 23, 2012

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