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 ! b$ ^+ L4 M E0 ` 8 Y4 a( [" N( W% p[attach]9932[/attach] ; g6 a" R% Y2 {: B8 h# @' XPreface * \1 e, S0 w9 ?% j* B9 @XV 4 A) ~# c0 D1 S* ^& n3 ^We all know only too well that our way of life, the food we eat, smoking, stress or * ]0 G$ g+ _4 N2 J9 j) N" {( J! Kenvironmental toxins infl uence our health. But we have just started to learn how& D I. m; y w/ N
these environmental factors cooperate with our hereditary genetic dispositions to8 D, z! v5 j$ ]1 m2 v8 E
determine health or the development of diseases.8 e9 W, M8 |; Y' z B& H
Moreover, we did not know until recently that all these factors may also infl uence # A# Z4 t8 j2 ethe health of our children and grandchildren to whom we may transmit6 i5 u; Z& o, G! ?) l, q& l; y
functional changes of our genes. Are we really responsible for the well - being of- _5 {8 Q1 j: t$ v% d
our unborn descendants?4 v8 x5 |9 E, u+ {
Does nutrition or stress in our early childhood and in our daily life determine" T$ ^# B" L+ J& o7 i) `/ C6 F) b
functions of genes and tissues by epigenetic mechanisms? And how does this) J* O( r+ X3 M( \* p6 z( P
infl uence change during life affecting ageing and longevity? To what extent is 4 _0 z& {7 _# p; tthere an inheritance of environmentally acquired characteristics? These are' Y( @0 x: v; f" Z
main questions in epigenetics, a new and exciting hot topic in natural sciences5 A3 _* ~3 ]7 P O
linking multiple hereditary and environmental impacts on our health ( http://www.8 C* L4 E+ j9 T, v
integratedhealthcare.eu ). ) y7 a+ a" N# J7 DIt has been noted in an article “ Epigenetics: The Science of Change ” of the . R2 G7 B7 ]) ]5 ~! o" B6 y& S) J! ]Environmental Health Perspectives , that interest in epigenetics is increasing “ as it: f+ C9 @1 l0 d! ?0 _ a
has become clear that understanding epigenetics and epigenomics – the genomewide . e& o) p x6 s$ l$ u5 u, Jdistribution of epigenetic changes – will be essential in work related to) a0 a+ Y- [8 n0 C2 t
many other topics requiring a thorough understanding of all aspects of genetics,, w+ O% {- {5 S/ O D% p( ~- _& V
such as stem cells, cloning, aging, synthetic biology, species conservation, evolution,; x" w1 E- }; n. H1 a+ `
and agri culture ” ( http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-3/focus. , X2 D9 x" n: I. d Y" G1 ~html ). Because of this interaction of epigenetics with so many scientifi c and ( N" E, w# H7 i# wtechnological fi elds, epigenetics will be at the center of public, governmental and ' p6 y- p! N5 z" zscientifi c interest." r I V, [- Q3 G2 W- {9 k8 x
There are now great books available which thoroughly describe mechanisms of 0 }5 D* s3 d+ Y9 X/ q, |: P7 iepigenetics. The idea for this book was born at a meeting at the University of : H/ \+ d' ^9 t4 i& U/ T9 A: {Vienna where participants from different areas of nutrition, environmental and : U/ W6 R# E3 R4 ?molecular biology stressed the need of more discussion on concepts towards , [# d% t* q3 J" {, }environmental health interactions between scientists of these disciplines. + z; v) W' Y3 J! ?- LClearly the more optimistic aspect of the possibility to prevent, interfere or even; i/ A6 A0 y& w m. N
correct epigenetic marks which could result in hazards for diseases, e.g. by dietary4 T9 X7 f- {9 y; B
concepts or changes of our personal environment and lifestyle, encourages the , U5 d+ a3 o8 {3 twork in epigenetics. In contrast many results from the analysis of hereditary) \9 l- [7 E" l4 |! ?. Q
genetic dispositions can only be respected.: r2 p% `! L7 S0 \) K
This book picks a transdisciplinary approach focusing on the new understanding * j3 M& C4 q% j- J4 P; z5 Cof epigenetic and gene - environment interactions for scientifi c, biomedical, 9 d3 t/ U# ^" N4 [8 \& {toxicological, environmental, nutritional, evolutionary and regulatory aspects. It/ C. L" b6 g& u
focuses on the views of the many exceptional scientists working in these different k! C) s! m) d
areas towards epigenetics and health environmental interactions. 5 u, ~% e+ U* @& F1 N5 ^' s# s6 `The articles in Part I of the book emphasize the interactions between concepts4 e/ B, C: w$ K7 G6 s7 L% j
of genetic diversity, epigenetics, environmental health, molecular epidemiology,& i. Q" {7 R( I1 d" a: A1 ~
nutrition and evolution theory. Part II focuses on hereditary aspects, Part III on( I: L+ J, x$ O8 S! g
environmental and toxicological aspects. Part IV extends on nutritional aspects. 7 }0 B' x; q6 h8 j, ^* eIn Part V the new understanding of epigenetics and environmental health interactions d3 V1 T2 i4 B+ D" }1 D8 j
is detailed in case studies of fi elds such as gynecology, oncology, infectious9 [+ X' {1 O/ h! q+ z
diseases, asthma, or neurodegenerative diseases. The last Part VI explores concepts9 k$ a; l+ r( A- v. x6 w4 i
to translate the new understanding into public health policies and strategies0 ~0 A3 E, Y; t7 g
including principal ethical aspects. & ^. S$ z9 |7 Q: P" Z- m9 z9 n& EThe book is targeted at scientists, environmental, nutritional and health experts, $ u; Q4 c8 }; @7 zgeneticists, experts in science communication, policy makers, experts from standard # N8 m# Z+ b4 g* H' d7 Xsetting authorities, teachers as well as scientifi cally experienced consumers 4 i! x. T6 M& j8 Rinterested in interdisciplinary aspects in this area.$ [. r4 ]- v+ F+ Q( a: e
The major objective of the book is to strengthen the understanding of interactions3 k! b9 \" U' d: i4 ?
between hereditary, genetic and environmental interactions and to bridge 6 }: j& @) X0 _( Ngaps which often have evolved between scientifi c disciplines of molecular, genetic9 s: }2 e: j6 e5 P* C5 [
and biotechnological areas on one side and environmental oriented sciences,/ [, Z# d5 p, g# z2 @. b$ y
conservation biology and environmental health on the other. 1 ?/ Z0 k N- a# k# D6 m( JWe thank all the brilliant authors who have contributed, as the summary of their! M! M- Y& l$ C; Y2 w. @/ o
distinguished views on this complex area is the essence of this book. * W$ p' U, }( K! a1 X @6 t9 VWe do hope that you all enjoy the rather rough ride through the newly emerging ! {$ t. u7 Q6 q5 \; band exciting fi elds of epigenetics!. T6 @/ O- t/ d* [ f
Vienna, September 2009 Alexander G. Haslberger . ]- j9 V+ K9 c4 s4 b作者: cjhpumc 时间: 2010-6-30 16:03