Human genome changes with age - AFP

Summary:
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the epigenetic marks on the sequence of a person's DNA modify over the course of their life and the extent of such changes is similar among family members. Epigenetic changes, unlike DNA sequence which is the same in every cell, can occur as a result of dietary and other environmental exposure. Epigenetics may play a role in diseases like diabetes, autism and cancer. Inappropriate methylation levels can contribute to disease: too much might turn necessary genes off, too little might turn genes on at the wrong time or in the wrong cell. (Published: 24/06/08)

Notes:

• Andrew Feinberg:
• "We're beginning to see that epigenetics stands at the center of modern medicine because epigenetic changes, unlike DNA sequence which is the same in every cell, can occur as a result of dietary and other environmental exposure. Epigenetics might very well play a role in diseases like diabetes, autism and cancer."
• team analyzed the DNA sequences from 600 people taking part in the AGES Reykjavik Study
• formerly called the Reykjavik Heart Study in Iceland
• participants supplied DNA samples in 1991, and then again between 2002 and 2005
• measured the variations in the levels of methylation in 111 samples.
• main epigenetic modification
• in about a third of cases, the methylation levels had changed over the years
• Vilmundur Gudnason, professor of cardiovascular genetics, University of Iceland
• "Inappropriate methylation levels can contribute to disease -- too much might turn necessary genes off, too little might turn genes on at the wrong time or in the wrong cell"
• Daniele Fallin, John Hopkins:
• "What we saw was a detectable change over time, which showed us proof of the principle that an individual's epigenetics does change with age."