Epigenetics is defi ned as the study of heritable alterations in gene expression or cellular phenotype. The term defi nes the difference from just a genetic approach. A more precise defi nition is that epigenetics is all the meiotically and mitotically inherited changes in gene expression that are not encoded in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence itself. Major epigenetic mechanisms are modifi cations of histone proteins in chromatin and DNA methylation (which does not alter the DNA sequence). There is increasing evidence for the involvement of epigenetics in human disease such as infl ammatory disease and cancer. Other chronic diseases are also susceptible to epigenetic modifi cation such as metabolic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. There is much evidence for the modification of epigenetics by nutrition and exercise. Through these modifi cations, there is infi nite potential for benefi t for the fetus, the newborn, and the individual as well as population effects. Association with cardiovascular (CV) disease including coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral arterial disease is evident through epigenetic relationships and modifi cation by major CV risk factors such as tobacco abuse. Aging itself may be altered by epigenetic modifi cation. Knowledge of the subject and its relevance is in a very preliminary stage.
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