Chemical exposure, epigenetics, and aging
- Patrick Allard
- Jul 1, 2016
- 1 min read
We live in a complex chemical environment where there are an estimated 350 000 chemical compounds or mixtures commercially produced. A strong body of literature shows that there are time points during early development when an organism's epigenome is particularly sensitive to chemicals in its environment. What is less understood is how gene-environment and epigenetic-environment interactions change with age. This question is bidirectional: (1) how do chemicals in the environment affect the aging process and (2) how does aging affect an organism's response to its chemical environment? In our laboratory, we use the model system C. elegans to dissect the interplay between aging and environmental exposure and how the epigenome may play a
n important role as a mediator between them.
The discussion on chemical exposure, epigenetics, and aging is both fascinating and important. It reminds us how the environment we live in directly influences our biology—not just in the short term, but across the span of our lives. Tiny changes at the molecular level can accumulate, shaping how our bodies age and even how our genes are expressed over time. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think about how this kind of research connects to practical solutions. For instance, Stanford Advanced Materials provides access to specialized products like molybdenum, hyaluronic compounds, mo-la alloys, and other chemical elements that play a vital role in both industrial and biomedical applications. Resources like these bridge the gap between advanced research and…