An incisive and contemporary discussion of epigenetic phenomena applied to human health and disease

In Epigenetics and Health: A Practical Guide, delivers a thorough and insightful exploration of the basic principles of gene function, gene regulation, and gene expression. The author explains how epigenetic modifications alter gene expression and demonstrate the role played by environmental factors—including nutrition, exercise, toxins, and stress—in gene regulation, as well as their potential health consequences.

The book presents current methods for analyzing epigenetic variation, including NGS applications and bioinformatic analysis, as well as DNA methylation, the post-translational modification of histones, and the roles played by chromatin-assembly modifying complexes, non-coding RNAs, and nuclear organization.

Readers will be encouraged to question, analyze, and critically appraise the contemporary literature on epigenetics to further develop and apply their understanding of the subject to their discipline. They’ll also find:

• Thorough introductions to how genes work and the definition of epigenetics
• Comprehensive explorations of epigenetic mechanisms, homeostasis, and the potential for manipulating the epigenome
• Practical discussions of tissues and methods for epigenetic analyses, as well as normal and abnormal epigenetic variation
• Fulsome treatments of cancer epigenetics, mental health epigenetics, and how to develop an epigenetics research project

Epigenetics and Health: A Practical Guide will benefit practicing geneticists and medical geneticists seeking a comprehensive discussion of epigenetic phenomena applied to human health and disease.