New understanding of epigenetics and consequences for environmental health and sustainability

Sagl, Veromika and Thaler, Roman and Gesche, Astrid H. and Haslberger, Alexander G. (2007) New understanding of epigenetics and consequences for environmental health and sustainability. In Zollitsch, W. and Winckler, C. and Waiblinger, S. and Haslberger, A., Eds. Proceedings Sustainable food production and ethics: Preprints of the 7th Congress of the European Society for Agriculture and Food Ethics. EurSAFE 2007, pages pp. 376-381, Vienna, Austria.

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Abstract

Genetic variation is controlled by two different mechanisms: genetic and epigenetic. Genetic variations are based on differences in DNA-sequences due to mutation and recombination events. Epigenetic variations, on the other hand, are not encoded through the nucleotide sequences of DNA, but rather through the chemical modification of either DNA or its associated proteins which results in certain genes being turned on or off. It appears that methylation, but also acetylation or ubiquitylation, lead to different molecular outcomes, resulting in phenomena such as the inactivation of the X-chromosome, genomic imprinting, or different types of cancer. Epigenetics will have profound effects on our understanding of human and environmental health by forcing us to look afresh on interactions between (wo)men with their natural and social environment and by adding a transgenerational, even evolutionary, aspect to the debate. These findings could strengthen emerging thoughts about sustainable and responsible care taking of our environment and consequently of our health through it.

Item Type:	Conference Paper
Status:	Published
Place of Publication:	Wageningen, The Netherlands
Keywords:	epigenetics; nutrition; environmental health; human health; sustainability; ethics; impact
Subjects:	360000 Policy and Political Science 370000 Studies in Human Society > 370100 Sociology 270000 Biological Sciences 300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences > 300900 Land, Parks and Agriculture Management 270000 Biological Sciences > 270800 Biotechnology 300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences > 300800 Environmental Sciences 390000 Law, Justice and Law Enforcement > 390300 Justice and Legal Studies 300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences > 309900 Other Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences 320000 Medical and Health Sciences > 321200 Public Health and Health Services 320000 Medical and Health Sciences > 329900 Other Medical and Health Sciences 220000 Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts - General 270000 Biological Sciences > 270200 Genetics 320000 Medical and Health Sciences > 321000 Clinical Sciences 300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences 380000 Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences 320000 Medical and Health Sciences 270000 Biological Sciences > 270700 Ecology and Evolution 440000 Philosophy and Religion > 440100 Philosophy > 440104 Applied Ethics (incl. Bioethics and Environmental Ethics)
ID Code:	13499
Deposited By:	Gesche, Astrid
Deposited On:	07 May 2008
Alternative Locations:	http://www.eursafe.org/conferences/, http://www.wageningenacademic.com/
Copyright Owner:	Copyright 2007 (please consult author)