Epigenetics Week 3 Assignment
Epigenetics Paper
Week 3 Assignment
The field of epigenetics is “the study of heritable changes in gene activity which are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence” (“Wikipedia”; n.d.). One can adopt a healthy lifestyle to change the impact of the genes inherited by an offspring. Ornish states that changing eating habits, loving more, and getting more exercise can cause a large increase in brain cells. (“ted.com/speakers”; n.d.) These changes could also impact the number of disease provoking genes that one will pass on to an offspring. It is possible for a parent to make changes in their lifestyle which will make an external change to their DNA. This means that a gene that would have …show more content…
One has no control over the DNA that they receive from each of their parents. They do, however, have control over their own DNA as they become adults. This control also passes to the DNA they pass to their children. There are many barriers that stand in the way of living a healthy lifestyle such as no time to exercise, no control of stresses, and the ability to love or be loved. A single mother with three children will have a hard time finding the time to exercise. She might also have a difficult time cooking healthy meals when the norm for her and her family is to eat fast food. She could also have no control over the fact that she does not have enough money to pay her bills or provide for the needs of her children. This will cause stress she feels she cannot control. This example is only a couple of the many barriers she would see when faced with the difficulty of making lifestyle changes. One answer would be to make time for exercise if its only fifteen minutes at night when she puts her children to bed. Another would be to cook four healthy meals on Sunday for the week to save money on fast food and also save time. Cooking on Sunday to save money and time will also cut down on stress. The bottom line is that changing one’s lifestyle is a choice that can be made just as not changing it is a choice. Barriers are not a reason but an
Week 3 Assignment
The field of epigenetics is “the study of heritable changes in gene activity which are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence” (“Wikipedia”; n.d.). One can adopt a healthy lifestyle to change the impact of the genes inherited by an offspring. Ornish states that changing eating habits, loving more, and getting more exercise can cause a large increase in brain cells. (“ted.com/speakers”; n.d.) These changes could also impact the number of disease provoking genes that one will pass on to an offspring. It is possible for a parent to make changes in their lifestyle which will make an external change to their DNA. This means that a gene that would have …show more content…
One has no control over the DNA that they receive from each of their parents. They do, however, have control over their own DNA as they become adults. This control also passes to the DNA they pass to their children. There are many barriers that stand in the way of living a healthy lifestyle such as no time to exercise, no control of stresses, and the ability to love or be loved. A single mother with three children will have a hard time finding the time to exercise. She might also have a difficult time cooking healthy meals when the norm for her and her family is to eat fast food. She could also have no control over the fact that she does not have enough money to pay her bills or provide for the needs of her children. This will cause stress she feels she cannot control. This example is only a couple of the many barriers she would see when faced with the difficulty of making lifestyle changes. One answer would be to make time for exercise if its only fifteen minutes at night when she puts her children to bed. Another would be to cook four healthy meals on Sunday for the week to save money on fast food and also save time. Cooking on Sunday to save money and time will also cut down on stress. The bottom line is that changing one’s lifestyle is a choice that can be made just as not changing it is a choice. Barriers are not a reason but an