...The field of epigenetics allows us to get a better understanding of the effects of stress and how it can have a prolonged impact on gene activity. Many studies(N.A Hazel et al., 2005, V.J. Felitti 2002, Franklin et al., 2010) carried out on humans and animals have shown that even early life stress can lead to epigenetic changes which can affect us in adulthood. These changes can make us more susceptible to many neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders. In a study carried out by Nätt et al., 2015 the epigenetic mechanisms caused by high stress levels were studied in children. They measured the levels of cortisol in children’s hair (assuming that stress levels were correlated with cortisol levels), according to this the children were divided into high and low stress groups....
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...Epigenetics What is epigenetics? Epigenetics refers to external modifications to DNA that turns genes "on" or "off". The DNA sequence is not changed, these modifications just affect how the genes are read. Epigenetic regulation involves the modification of DNA and the proteins associated with DNA, which results in changes to the conformation of DNA without a change in its sequence. In some cases, epigenetic modifications are stable and passed down to future generations, but in others cases they are dynamic and change in response to environmental stimuli. Two common molecular mechanisms that regulate epigenetics are DNA methylation and histone modifications. Epigenetic processes are essential for development and differentiation, but they...
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...Instructor Benjamin Atkins Epigenetics -vs- Nature -vs- Nurture The nature vs nurture debate is still ongoing, and within this debate, the world of science and psychology are faced with two new questions. Today we find some researchers asking; "Is development predetermined at birth, by hereditary factors, or do experience and other environ -mental factors affect it?", and "Can the two work together in shaping human development and behavior?" Developmental psychologists still attempt to find the answers to these questions in order to discover the sources of growth in children's cognitive, language, and social skills. Most developmental psychologists believe that nature and nurture combine to influence biological factors playing a stronger role in some aspects, such as physical development, and environmental factors playing a stronger role in others, such as moral development. They are also beginning to acknowledge the role of a variable combination of both inborn factors and social experiences when explaining children's behavior. Scientists and Psychologists have a name for such an occurrence; epigenetics/epigenesis. In this essay, I will be presenting to my audience information on this highly, and sometimes heated debate, as well as the reasons as to why the belief of this dual influence called epigenetics is becoming more fact than theory. For as long as there has been life, and those who question life, there has always been the one question...
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...2010. These researchers found out that epigenetics plays a crucial role in the development of depression. If young children experience stress, it can lead to changes in genes which are associated with developing depression later in life. Children who experienced a childhood with a lack of love and care are more likely to become depressed. Moreover, it was found that in people who has committed suicide because of depression, they discovered significant epigenetic difference in the frontal cortex, compared to that of a healthy person (Janov, 2013 & Schroeder, Krebs, Bleich & Frieling, 2010 and Prontzos, 2012). Furthermore, he refers to research at Duke University on epigenetics (Dolinoy, 2008) to highlight the strong relationship of stress early in life of a child and the development of depression induced by a change in genes (Janov, 2013). Accordingly, by referring to additional studies, Janov tries to complete and advance the understanding of mental illnesses caused by early life traumas. However, studies proving the ideas behind the therapy are insufficiently provided in Janov’s writings, references are missing and most of the studies are done by Janov or advocates of Primal...
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...Epigenetics is the study of how external factors such as age, lifestyle and the environment alter our genes but do not change our DNA sequence. It is a change in phenotype, physical traits and characteristics yet, not a change in genotype, our inherited genes. As stated in the videos, epigenetics is the way in which our genes are expressed. For example, the caterpillar and the butterfly which have identical DNA yet, look totally different. The environment is a factor that can modify our DNA. We are born with this capacity to adjust to all types of changes. Based on the article I researched on epigenetics I found that excessive smoking and drinking correlates with premature aging. According to the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), “Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use cause epigenetic changes to DNA that reflect accelerated biological aging in distinct, measurable ways.” The results of extensive research were that exposure to drinking and smoking of any kind caused early aging signs. However, drinking one to two drinks per day was the healthiest result. Consuming low or high levels showed the highest connection with quicker aging. These...
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...Unit 2, Ind. Project , American Intercontinental University Theories of Crime causation Criminal justice 105 Abstract This paper discusses the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. The author of this paper includes examples that she found through research studies. The author also includes the results and findings for twin, adoption and testosterone studies that were conducted by top professionals in the study of genetics and the biological environments that surround us. The author also has listed some of the dangers of suggesting that there is in fact a criminal gene in the field of Criminal justice that is in existence and what the repercussions would be if it was proven to be the truth. This paper is informative and professionally cited. Discuss the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. Criminality is definitely influenced by genetic factors as well as environment. For example studies were conducted among adopted children that have a biological parent that is a criminal these children have a higher risk of engaging in criminal activities, according to Richard J. Hernstein. He asserts that there have been many other studies that confirm certain physical traits, such as muscularity, gender and some have an extra Y chromosome, these children were also at a higher risk of committing crime. Therefore the late Hernstein argues, it’s refutable that criminal behavior has a genetic source. All...
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...Unit 2, Ind. Project , American Intercontinental University Theories of Crime causation Criminal justice 105 Abstract This paper discusses the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. The author of this paper includes examples that she found through research studies. The author also includes the results and findings for twin, adoption and testosterone studies that were conducted by top professionals in the study of genetics and the biological environments that surround us. The author also has listed some of the dangers of suggesting that there is in fact a criminal gene in the field of Criminal justice that is in existence and what the repercussions would be if it was proven to be the truth. This paper is informative and professionally cited. Discuss the merits of the idea that genetics are a source for criminal behavior. Criminality is definitely influenced by genetic factors as well as environment. For example studies were conducted among adopted children that have a biological parent that is a criminal these children have a higher risk of engaging in criminal activities, according to Richard J. Hernstein. He asserts that there have been many other studies that confirm certain physical traits, such as muscularity, gender and some have an extra Y chromosome, these children were also at a higher risk of committing crime. Therefore the late Hernstein argues, it’s refutable that criminal behavior has a genetic source. All...
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...been coming to the festival for years. Like most twins who attend, they enjoy spending time with each other. In fact, during the past 18 years, the 53-year-old truckers, whose identical beards reach down to their chests, have driven more than three million miles together, hauling everything from diapers to canned soup from places like Seattle, Washington, to Camden, New Jersey. While one sits at the wheel of their diesel Freightliner, the other snoozes in the bunk behind him. They listen to the same country gospel stations on satellite radio, share the same Tea Party gripes about big government, and munch on the same road diet of pepperoni, apples, and mild cheddar cheese. On their days off they go hunting or fishing together. It's a way of life that suits them. "Must be a twins thing," Don says. This afternoon at the festival the brothers have stopped by a research tent sponsored by the FBI, the University of Notre Dame, and West Virginia University. Inside the big white tent technicians are photographing sets of twins with high-resolution cameras, collecting their fingerprints, and scanning their irises to find out if...
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...TMA 02 DSE212 Dina EL-Aridi Option B ‘All features of our psychological life ... have as their biological bases the activity of neuronal systems in the brain’ (p.259). Does this mean that psychological life can be reduced to neuronal activity? Illustrate your answer with examples from Chapter 4, ‘Biological psychology’, from Book 1, mapping psychology The case study of Phineas Gage referred as being within the subject of Biological Psychology. As we human beings are a “biological species”, we need to be able to understand our biological make-up, to further study the Physiological field, only once we can fully understand the different part of our bodies, including the brain can we then apply Psychological research methods to study & develop understanding . Science constantly evolves to study and gain understanding, which then can lead to data interpretation methods like Psychological .The Theorist Crick,-: His belief and scientific approach called “Reductionism” (Mapping Psychology, Pg 230) Suggests that “Potentially all psychological events and experiences can fully and only explained in terms of the activity within the components of the brain”. Other Scientists do however argue that there should be a much broader view taken, and other views et should be considered.(Bolton and Hill, 1996, Stevens, 1996: Toates, 2001) These other theorists, and studies are suggested (Mapping Psychology, Pg 230) as having equally possible explanations of how our brains components...
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...Nicole Berz A37447965 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a highly prevalent, neurobiological disorder which generally has an early onset of symptoms (Biederman, 2005). Children of both genders are affected and symptoms often persist into adolescence and adulthood. It often includes varying degrees of age-inappropriate behaviors such as impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity (Barkley, 2002). These behavior traits must be prominent enough to cause impairment in the individual’s functioning. ADHD is considered a developmentally relative deficit. This means that diagnosable ADHD cases are often the extreme cases of normal traits, or result from an abnormal delay in normal traits. Evidence exists that the disorder runs in families, and it is assumed to be heritable (Biederman, 2005). Polanczyk, Silva de Lima, Horta, Biederman, & Rohde (2007) point out that this disorder has become a major public health concern because of its prevalence, early onset, and the serious financial burden for both families and society, that is often associated with it. Common predicaments with ADHD include overdiagnosis, stimulant medications as treatment, and the issue regarding worldwide prevalence, namely, whether or not it is more common in the United States. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been studied extensively, often with controversial findings, which implies that much more research is necessary. ADHD appears quite diverse over varying cases...
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...America, 3 Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America Summary: Recent cancer studies emphasize that genetic and heritable epigenetic changes drive the evolutionary rate of cancer progression and drug resistance. We discuss the ways in which nonheritable aspects of cellular variability may significantly increase evolutionary rate. Nonheritable variability arises by stochastic fluctuations in cells and by physiological responses of cells to the environment. New approaches to drug design may be required to control nonheritable variability and the evolution of resistance to chemotherapy. Cancer progression is a series of evolutionary changes. Those changes include enhanced cellular proliferation, reduced cellular death by abrogating normal apoptotic mechanisms, greater invasiveness by increased expression of proteases, and improved colonizing ability to achieve metastasis [1]. In response to drug treatment, cancer cells often evolve resistance and continue to spread. Each evolutionary step typically proceeds by acquisition of genetic or heritable epigenetic changes in cells. When does the novel genetic change arise in an evolutionary step? By the current view, rare genetic variants arise before widespread phenotypic change. The idea is that a novel phenotype always comes from a novel genotype [2,3]. For example, rare resistant genetic variants may exist before drug treatment [4]. The drug selects those rare resistant...
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...Introduction to Human Behavioral Genetics One of psychology’s defining issues concerns the origins of individual differences in behavior: Why are some people outgoing and cheerful while others are withdrawn and forlorn? Why do some struggle academically while others excel at school despite minimal study? Why do some suffer the ravages of a psychotic illness like schizophrenia while others enjoy a life free of mental illness? At the core to answering these questions is the ages-old "nature-nurture" debate: Are the behavioral differences among us due predominantly to inborn natural differences or the cumulative impact of our experiences? The nature-nurture debate generated much controversy and acrimony within psychology, although today most are willing to retire the debate and declare both sides victorious. This course provides an introduction to behavioral genetics, the field within psychology that demonstrated that Nature and Nurture both play a fundamental role in the development of psychological traits. We will explore how early behavioral genetic research radically changed how psychologists conceptualized human behavior and how the mapping of the human genome is fundamentally altering current research approaches to a wide range of behavioral characteristics. The course will cover the traditional behavioral genetic methodologies of twin and adoption studies as well as modern approaches based on molecular genetic techniques. Upon completion of the course, students should...
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...University of Phoenix Nutritional Needs Nutrition is the major intrauterine environmental factor that alters expression of the fetal genome and may have lifelong consequences. This phenomenon, termed “fetal programming,” has led to the recent theory of “fetal origins of adult disease.” Namely, alterations in fetal nutrition and endocrine status may result in developmental adaptations that permanently change the structure, physiology, and metabolism of the offspring, thereby predisposing individuals to metabolic, endocrine, and cardiovascular diseases in adult life. Animal studies show that both maternal undernutrition and over nutrition reduce placental-fetal blood flows and stunt fetal growth. Impaired placental syntheses of nitric oxide (a major vasodilator and angiogenesis factor) and polyamines (key regulators of DNA and protein synthesis) may provide a unified explanation for intrauterine growth retardation in response to the 2 extremes of nutritional problems with the same pregnancy outcome. There is growing evidence that maternal nutritional status can alter the epigenetic state (stable alterations of gene expression through DNA methylation and histone modifications) of the fetal genome. This may provide a molecular mechanism for the impact of maternal nutrition on both fetal programming and genomic imprinting. Promoting optimal nutrition will not only ensure optimal fetal development, but will also reduce the risk of chronic diseases in adults. Maternal nutrition plays...
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...Stages of Life Erica Hutchinson PSY/230 March 22, 2012 Milssa Yeagley Checkpoint 8 Eight Stages of Life A relation connecting human’s social environments has had an unlimited effect on today’s society with its growing and its maturity through all of our entire life. Each person’s psychological development is supported and prone by psychosocial experiences. When it comes to psychosocial, it can be cleared as if involving both the psychological and the social features of every day of someone’s life. Numerous factors could contribute to someone’s whole psychological health such as the acknowledgement and encouragement every day’s life normality that has let society make it regular. The normality that society has thought up could possibly come between with someone’s thought of “ideal self,” which could hinder the development of social connecting. The hindrance of being social connected could be outstandingly unfavorable to someone's growth, especially when it comes to the early years of someone’s life. Erikson was known as the Freudian for the ego-psychologist and that means he accepts the principles of Freud. Erikson also agreed with the thought of the epigenetic principle. Epigenetic principle is known as the development through a predetermined unfolding of personalities through the eight stages of life. The eight stages of life are known to by someone’s success throughout life or the lack of success that they are experiencing, throughout the eight stages of life (Sharkey...
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