Epigenetics Series: Can Working Out Change Your Genes?

Professional athletes seem to have a special “something” that no one else has. “It must be in his genes,” we say when we see Michael Phelps swimming or Michael Jordan shooting a three-pointer. But is it actually in their genes? Is there a gene for athleticism? Epigenetics says “maybe.” It’s not necessarily that professional athletes […]

Epigenetics Series – Is Cancer Related To Your DNA?

Are we predisposed to cancer, based on our DNA? Or do our lifestyles and choices primarily determine our health? For years, doctors debated this question in a “black or white” fashion: either disease is predetermined in DNA or disease is determined by lifestyle. Recently, though, doctors determined that the answer falls somewhere in the gray […]

Epigenetics Series: How does stress affect your genes?

Could your genes and stress be related? Is stress passed down from generation to generation? Recent research shows that stress may alter our genes in a way that’s linked to mental and physical illnesses. These stress-induced illnesses may even be hereditary, meaning the trauma of our ancestors impacts our contemporary genetic expression.  How is stress […]

What Is Epigenetics And Why Do You Care

Epigenetics is making a splash in science and healthcare as the medical community is deepening understanding of the link between gene expression and lifestyle factors. Epigenetics is the study of those processes or variables that activate or deactivate the expression of certain genes. These genes make up our entire lives—from the way we look to […]