标题: PDF电子书：Epigenetics and Human Health [打印本页] 作者: lifescience1 时间: 2010-6-30 13:34 标题: PDF电子书：Epigenetics and Human Health
本帖最后由 细胞海洋 于 2010-6-30 16:11 编辑 ) W& r+ I+ i6 x5 G( H" C3 B
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Preface & ?( P* |. A! z7 d/ M0 I W. I5 LXV: @6 v: w$ S% ~
We all know only too well that our way of life, the food we eat, smoking, stress or , j" p7 ?& \7 i- Z( h# J4 Jenvironmental toxins infl uence our health. But we have just started to learn how , v% B, _1 [( L. p. A! W; kthese environmental factors cooperate with our hereditary genetic dispositions to; V: [& @+ C0 M, v5 n
determine health or the development of diseases. ; p/ y- [- D+ ^( p1 U6 I- qMoreover, we did not know until recently that all these factors may also infl uence3 p- o J7 Y i+ a9 e9 X& m
the health of our children and grandchildren to whom we may transmit" E- U5 T6 f; ^# E2 N5 d( O# Z
functional changes of our genes. Are we really responsible for the well - being of - T* z& k& F+ w. @% I+ cour unborn descendants?; P. X- e* ~7 c* U' c8 C1 y
Does nutrition or stress in our early childhood and in our daily life determine # f- Y0 e/ \; |) t, o' {3 yfunctions of genes and tissues by epigenetic mechanisms? And how does this $ g: k+ F& @* `2 ?. }* D, b4 Ginfl uence change during life affecting ageing and longevity? To what extent is ; M2 T$ s+ R) h; ithere an inheritance of environmentally acquired characteristics? These are/ D5 ?3 C; w; {4 Q; H# ]4 G
main questions in epigenetics, a new and exciting hot topic in natural sciences; I8 C6 N( e& z* [: |% R
linking multiple hereditary and environmental impacts on our health ( http://www. ' z3 B" y& `$ P( iintegratedhealthcare.eu ). 2 f% e* L7 l3 S" p2 pIt has been noted in an article “ Epigenetics: The Science of Change ” of the . N1 c4 k- T' k5 SEnvironmental Health Perspectives , that interest in epigenetics is increasing “ as it5 O, v8 D2 f# N' |* w0 L6 F& j
has become clear that understanding epigenetics and epigenomics – the genomewide; i, {' _# t. {7 U* ?4 R& [6 ^: ]9 y/ k
distribution of epigenetic changes – will be essential in work related to. P0 S. u9 n3 Y4 I r; }$ e
many other topics requiring a thorough understanding of all aspects of genetics, * n, \9 X( t% _* Y/ usuch as stem cells, cloning, aging, synthetic biology, species conservation, evolution,4 ?, _2 C$ V0 I' v$ ]
and agri culture ” ( http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-3/focus. : ?, p8 W- g6 thtml ). Because of this interaction of epigenetics with so many scientifi c and ! U5 J1 h/ M- B5 \3 ]3 stechnological fi elds, epigenetics will be at the center of public, governmental and 7 _* Y3 `) k; f" D( T2 L s9 rscientifi c interest. & o& g, e. Q2 A" f: a' zThere are now great books available which thoroughly describe mechanisms of, P# e3 I& }6 v$ q- q
epigenetics. The idea for this book was born at a meeting at the University of $ @6 \+ T* k p; C+ L7 eVienna where participants from different areas of nutrition, environmental and , R% v# ~5 e# Z4 f, `molecular biology stressed the need of more discussion on concepts towards# m/ s$ B. Z( k
environmental health interactions between scientists of these disciplines. + ^1 b$ A/ K+ P0 AClearly the more optimistic aspect of the possibility to prevent, interfere or even u' X( y+ ?3 Y7 ?7 g& Dcorrect epigenetic marks which could result in hazards for diseases, e.g. by dietary* \& F" o F6 W+ c B m
concepts or changes of our personal environment and lifestyle, encourages the9 y9 d. Q- m" w# R( S# l8 j1 U
work in epigenetics. In contrast many results from the analysis of hereditary" v, c1 k& Z/ s3 y& V8 ^0 C
genetic dispositions can only be respected.$ G+ M3 Z8 U; U+ E$ |9 f' S5 @, o* x
This book picks a transdisciplinary approach focusing on the new understanding # H5 Q# b; Y* Kof epigenetic and gene - environment interactions for scientifi c, biomedical, Y/ Z( o C1 n1 s) V: m ^; u" K$ C
toxicological, environmental, nutritional, evolutionary and regulatory aspects. It 9 G( F3 |4 h4 @2 d& w2 k2 Ifocuses on the views of the many exceptional scientists working in these different! C; s1 H: ^: n6 ]2 \ G5 q
areas towards epigenetics and health environmental interactions. 5 G" y* y: r: @/ q$ M/ qThe articles in Part I of the book emphasize the interactions between concepts & }, | B7 G6 ]0 v2 y, L, bof genetic diversity, epigenetics, environmental health, molecular epidemiology, ( z* {) y r* B- bnutrition and evolution theory. Part II focuses on hereditary aspects, Part III on / K8 R) ~6 V8 X. N* I4 T, n0 I' eenvironmental and toxicological aspects. Part IV extends on nutritional aspects. ! m1 Q" P0 J) T {7 E# q( TIn Part V the new understanding of epigenetics and environmental health interactions4 O8 r; G* ~ x) O0 P% l s
is detailed in case studies of fi elds such as gynecology, oncology, infectious , f, I5 E+ g% q3 y8 Ydiseases, asthma, or neurodegenerative diseases. The last Part VI explores concepts - K8 w4 I7 d+ n# [to translate the new understanding into public health policies and strategies! A" |9 Q2 F1 D* L: g0 m* }
including principal ethical aspects. $ _3 N! L* q- y2 ?% h fThe book is targeted at scientists, environmental, nutritional and health experts, & w1 L# Z9 a h i- h0 [% Igeneticists, experts in science communication, policy makers, experts from standard! Z+ P; ?6 s% T" C3 L6 e+ c# h
setting authorities, teachers as well as scientifi cally experienced consumers+ R# M R! F% @6 i9 }
interested in interdisciplinary aspects in this area. * C5 a' l! ^7 x. T" X) G" R" hThe major objective of the book is to strengthen the understanding of interactions 5 t8 `3 F+ ?7 r Nbetween hereditary, genetic and environmental interactions and to bridge ! \& ?% O' c# u& v9 qgaps which often have evolved between scientifi c disciplines of molecular, genetic( |: W- T+ ^ ^+ F3 Z/ t
and biotechnological areas on one side and environmental oriented sciences,) G2 a2 u2 V* T- q' |5 {) g' `
conservation biology and environmental health on the other. " N- _! C5 N" J( j0 I+ l! U3 S6 f2 ?We thank all the brilliant authors who have contributed, as the summary of their# U/ D4 R2 z. ]
distinguished views on this complex area is the essence of this book.0 c6 y( W1 {! ]+ L7 r+ R
We do hope that you all enjoy the rather rough ride through the newly emerging5 S' X& ^5 z# ~& \0 Q! N+ }5 g
and exciting fi elds of epigenetics!. w; }+ S+ e0 a2 i( `
Vienna, September 2009 Alexander G. Haslberger ; s6 c. ?- k5 Y作者: cjhpumc 时间: 2010-6-30 16:03