# *Genome 2 Phenome 4 Non-Biologists Workshop*: Epigenetics/Epitranscriptomics, April 1 2021

---
## Epigenetics & Epitranscriptomics
---
### Learning Objectives:

* Understand epigenetics is the study of heritable phenotypic variation that does not involve changes to the DNA sequence.
* Conceptualize `epi-'omics` as changes to the chromosome or RNA molecule that affect biological function due to environment changes.
* Relate how the genome functions across cells, tissues, and environments within this context.

---

### Question 1:
**If the genetic information is the same , why are a brain and a kidney (or a root and a flower petal) so different?**

* Breakout Room 1:
Different transcription factors combine to gether to give different expression patterns
* Breakout Room 2:Different genes are being expressed in different tissues / organs. In some tissues certain regions of the DNA may not be accessible.

* Breakout Room 3:

* Breakout Room 4: For different cell types, genes are transcribed with tissue-specific transcription factors in combination of other transcription factors of the same nature.

* Breakout Room 5:

---

### Question 2:
**Describe two different ways genes are activated and two ways they are silenced.**

* Breakout Room 1:
Activated by enhancers and promoters
Silenced by DNA methylation and Imprinting

* Breakout Room 2:DNA methylation and histone modifications can silence genes. Enhancers and promotors can activate genes.

* Breakout Room 3:

* Breakout Room 4: Genes are activated with enhancers and promoters. Promoters are short regions of DNA that initiate the transcription of certain genes. Enhancers are regions of DNA that facilitate the transcription of those genes.
--> Genes are silenced via DNA methylation and Histone Modifications. These two things block transcription from occurring by manipulating the way that DNA is structured

* Breakout Room 5:

---

### Question 3:
**What is the basis for genomic imprinting, and why does it occur?**

* Breakout Room 1:
One of the parents can turn off gene expression.
Why: to regulate normal development
* Breakout Room 2:parental genes are just one of them can active or can be microdeletion.

* Breakout Room 3:
* Cytoplasmic signals transferred to gametes to maintain epigenetic marks. This in an active area of research as epigenetic marks are wiped during gamete formation and they re-marked. There may well be signals in the cytoplasm to facilitate this process.

* Breakout Room 4:

* Breakout Room 5:

---
### Question 4:
**How can your grandfather’s diet affect your health?**

* Breakout Room 1:
Epigenetics - Diet can change DNA methylation

* Breakout Room 2: Through inherited epigenetic modification of genes

* Breakout Room 3:
* Nothing good to eat when family visits -- just hard candy and diet soda.

* Breakout Room 4: Through transgenerational epigenetic regulation

* Breakout Room 5:

---
### Question 5:
**What is a possible role for epigenetics in crop adaptation to climate change?**

* Breakout Room 1:
Changes in environment and land can cause epigenetic effecs on growth in future generations.
* Breakout Room 2: DNA methylases and histone modifying enzymes respond to the environment

* Breakout Room 3:
* Similar to conecpt about transgenerational epigenetic changes. Several years of drought/high temp, could reprogram the epigenome of its offspring which are inheritable.

* Breakout Room 4: Heat and lack of rain are environmental effects that change gene methalation in the seeds and thereby turn on or turn off genes in the next generation plant to help it adapt.

* Breakout Room 5:

---
### Comments:

* Breakout Room 1:

* Breakout Room 2:

* Breakout Room 3:

* Breakout Room 4:

* Breakout Room 5:

---

**Resources for Further Learning:**

---