Paradigm Shift: From Genetics to Epigenetics 2.0

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 370

Special Issue Editor

Scientific Institute of Research and Care Multimedica, Via Milanese 300, 20099 Sesto S. Giovanni (Milano), Italy
Interests: cell differentiation; cancer cell peprogramming; tissue regeneration; cell survival; cellular senescence; aging prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The epidemiological transition of diseases in recent decades, in the form of numerous chronic, inflammatory, degenerative and neoplastic diseases, with an alarming lowering of the age of onset, represents an unprecedented, serious public health issue. It urges us to encourage the convergence of perspectives and interventions by the scientific community.

The parallel increases in the prevalence of numerous diseases and the worrying anticipation of the age of onset have drawn increasing attention to the study of embryo–fetal ontogenesis. Long considered a mere execution of predefined instructions written in DNA, the events of intrauterine growth currently appear in a completely different light, thanks to knowledge derived from epigenetics. Findings in this field have made it possible to understand that embryo–fetal ontogenesis is the most important time window for animal life and, particularly for human beings, has relevant implications for both evolutionary and biomedical fields.

The traditional model of linear genetics and the correlation of genotype–phenotype have become increasingly unsuitable for explaining epidemiological and clinical findings of the evolving scenario of diseases. Instead, a fluid genome model—comprised of the DNA sequence and the dynamics and structures of histones responsive to information from the surrounding environment—seems to be a more plausible paradigm.

Besides the control of cell differentiation and the development of embryonic tissues and organs during ontogenesis, epigenetic machinery explains the tuning of predictive adaptive responses acting to program the limits of lifetime physiologic adaptations, modulating the risk for diseases. Among the factors modulating epigenetic machinery, evidence supports a relevant impact of microbiota in determining the lifetime risk for disease. Furthermore, numerous studies show correlations between dysbiosis and the risk of non-transmissible diseases.

The Special Issue, “Paradigm Shift: from Genetics to Epigenetics”, aims to collect original research manuscripts, short communications and reviews on the latest progress of epigenetic mechanisms that can explain dramatic changes in the present epidemiological scenario, considering the role of many different pollutants—such as endocrine disruptors—and the role of microbiota in changing gene expression in the cells of the body.

Dr. Pier Mario Biava
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • epigenetics
  • ontogenesis
  • stem cell differentiation
  • endocrine disruptors
  • nutrigenetics
  • nutrigenomics
  • microbioma
  • microbiota

Published Papers

There is no accepted submissions to this special issue at this moment.
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