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Epigenetics and the Human Brain

Throughout our lives, the brain remains flexible and responsive. In addition to receiving signals from the outside world, the brain allows us to form memories and learn from our experiences. Many brain functions are accompanied at the cellular level by changes in gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modification and DNA methylation stabilize gene expression, which is important for long-term storage of information.

Not surprisingly, epigenetic changes are also a part of brain diseases such as mental illness and addiction. Understanding the role of epigenetics in brain disease may open the door to being able to influence it. This may lead to the development of new and more effective treatments for brain diseases.

A segment from a June 2008 lecture given by Dr. Moshe Szyf, Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University.

Dr. Szyf talks about studies that looked at epigenetic tags in the brains of suicide victims. He describes some of the laboratory methods scientists use to study epigenetics, and goes over some of the evidence that shows an association between certain epigenetic patterns, suicide, and child abuse.

Scientists are just starting to study how changes in epigenetic tags affect behavior, and how behavior can change epigenetic tags. Some highlights:

Tsankova, N., Renthal, W., Kumar, A., and Nextler, E.J. (2007). Epigenetic regulation in psychiatric disorders. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 8: 355-367 (subscription required).

Sweatt, J.D. (2009). Experience-dependent epigenetic modifications in the central nervous system. Biological Psychiatry, 65: 191-197 (subscription required).

Kumar, A. et al. (2008). Chromatin remodeling is a key mechanism underlying cocaine-induced plasticity in striatum. Neuron 48 (2): 303-314 (subscription required).

Ongoing research sponsored by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

APA format: Genetic Science Learning Center (2014, June 22) Epigenetics and the Human Brain. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved October 07, 2015, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/brain/ MLA format: Genetic Science Learning Center. "Epigenetics and the Human Brain." Learn.Genetics 7 October 2015 <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/brain/> Chicago format: Genetic Science Learning Center, "Epigenetics and the Human Brain," Learn.Genetics, 22 June 2014, <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/brain/> (7 October 2015)

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Epigenetics and the Human Brain - Learn Genetics