ScienceDaily (Apr. 14, 2009) — The new science of epigenetics explains how genes can be modified by the environment, and a prime result of epigenetic inquiry has just been published online in The FASEB Journal: You are what your mother did not eat during pregnancy. In the research report, scientists from the University of Utah show that rat fetuses receiving poor nutrition in the womb become genetically primed to be born into an environment lacking proper nutrition.
As a result of this genetic adaptation, the rats were likely to grow to smaller sizes than their normal counterparts. At the same time, they were also at higher risk for a host of health problems throughout their lives, such as diabetes, growth retardation, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurodevelopmental delays, among others. Although the study involved rats, the genes and cellular mechanisms involved are the same as those in humans.
"Our study emphasizes that maternal–fetal health influences multiple healthcare issues across generations," said Robert Lane, professor of pediatric neonatology at the University of Utah, and one of the senior researchers involved in the study. "To reduce adult diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, we need to understand how the maternal–fetal environment influences the health of offspring."
The scientists made this discovery through experiments involving two groups of rats. The first group was normal. The second group had the delivery of nutrients from their mothers' placentas restricted in a way that is equivalent to preeclampsia. The rats were examined right after birth and again at 21 days (21 days is essentially a preadolescent rat) to measure the amount of a protein, called IGF-1, that promotes normal development and growth in rats and humans. They found that the lack of nutrients caused the gene responsible for IGF-1 to significantly reduce the amount of IGF-1 produced in the body before and after birth.
"The new 'epigenetics' has taught us how nature is changed by nurture," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "The jury's in and, yes, expectant moms really are eating for two. This study shows not only that we need to address problems such as preeclampsia during pregnancy, but also that prenatal care is far more important than anyone could have imagined a decade ago."
Please post a one paragraph response to this article. Expand on your thoughts and relate this information to content learned in class.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs in pregnancy and typically starts after their 20th week of pregnancy. This condition is related to increased blood pressure and can affect the mother's kidneys, liver, and brain. It's the leading cause of fetal complications, low birth weight, premature and still birth. This is a non-treatable and non-preventable condition.
ReplyDeleteMother's diet throughout their pregnancy can also contribute to the healthiness of their child. For example, smoking and drinking during pregnancy could put the child at a high risk for certain diseases and complications. This knowledge should encourage the mother to closely monitor what they eat and develop a strict diet considering what goes into their body affects the child as well.
-Lorina Kegler
Preeclampsia occurs during or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.It involves complications and abnormalities of the fetus.I found it very interesting how they used to lab rats to carry out this experiment. I'm beginning to think that the theory "humans and animals are alike" is true.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting because everything adapt to its environment.I compare this article to what we where discussing in class about the twins.Twins may have the same DNA but act totally different to each other.
So does the fetus ...what ever the mother intake may be, the child will be expose ,whether good or bad.
The Article has me thinking about some many things. Im thinking about what my mom ate with al of her kids. As I did further research Preeclampsia is a disorder that occur only in preganacy. As Stated on preeclampsia.org,"By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year." This article Open my eyes to so many different disorder. This ties back to everyhting weve been doing. It first ties back to what the panelist said,"Its the enviroment we swim in that help us inherit these diseases". It aslo ties back to th twins they, both share the same DNa but, have different towards each other. It made me think about and makes me ask my mother what did she eat when i was in her wound. In English Class we talk about Fast Food and Obesity. My teacher gave an example on how her sister ate only fish and tuna her whole preganacy. So the baby came out being autistic. So this article just showed that its not what you give the baby while its in your wound but, the enviroment they are raised in as well.
ReplyDeletedA'nEANE bELL
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete