We've all heard of DNA. This small molecule contains all the information necessary to form every cell in a living organism, but how does each cell know what type of cell it is and not some other type?
Within each cell, there are certain mechanisms that tell it to behave in a certain way and not in any other.
These mechanisms are called epigenetic mechanisms, and the branch of science that studies them is called epigenetics. Epigenetics is a relatively new science that emerged in the middle of the last century and has been gaining momentum in recent years.
Scientists of that era wanted to answer a very important question: How could cells as different as red blood cells and neurons arise from a single cell (the zygote)?
It was reported that the DNA It was organized into genes—units containing essential information that can be turned on and off to perform a specific cellular function.
Thus, if the cell needs to grow, the growth genes are activated; or if energy is needed, the genes that release sugar into the bloodstream are activated.
Likewise, during the stage embryonic, if a group of cells is required to develop into neurons, the genes involved in neuron formation will be activated, and those that could lead to the formation of other cell types—such as the genes responsible for muscle cell formation, for example—will be turned off.
The epigenetics It focuses on studying the mechanisms that turn genes on and off. This field of study also allows us to understand other interesting phenomena, such as, Why do the Do twins become different from one another over time? Why do we age? Or even, Why haven't we found a cure yet? against cancer?
There is certainly much more to discover and learn about this field of study, but for now, I encourage you to read a little more and discover the wonders hidden within our cells.
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