Glossario: le parole dell’epigenetica

· Environment. The combination of all external factors that can influence the life, health, and development of an individual or organism: physical factors (climate, temperature, radiation, etc.), chemical factors (exposure to chemicals, pollutants, etc.), biological factors (exposure to bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.), and, also psychological and social factors (stress, trauma, social relationships, diet, lifestyle, etc.). Considering the environment in a broad sense is essential to understanding how external factors can affect health and development and to developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

· Epigenetics. The study of how environment and lifestyle influence gene expression, that is, the activation or deactivation of genes within cells, without changing the DNA sequence. Lifestyle factors (nutrition, physical activity, stress) can influence epigenetics, affecting behavior and health.

· Epigenome. The complete set of reversible and heritable chemical modifications that regulate gene activity across the entire genome.

· Transgenerational inheritance. The transmission of traits, behaviors, or psychological effects from one generation to the next without changes to the DNA sequence. This phenomenon can occur through epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation.

· Genome. The complete set of genetic material of an organism, contained in chromosomes within cells. It consists mainly of DNA, which carries the instructions necessary for development, function, and reproduction. DNA is organized into structures called chromosomes, and each chromosome contains numerous genes, segments of DNA coding for specific proteins.

· DNA methylation. An epigenetic modification and the most stable and simplest epigenetic effect to study. It involves adding methyl groups (-CH₃) to specific regions of DNA.

· Epigenetic modifications. Changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence but affect gene activation or deactivation.

· PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). A mental health condition that develops after highly traumatic experiences such as war, catastrophic events, or repeated and continuous exposure to violence, abuse, and degradation. Defined and studied primarily in the United States since the Vietnam War, PTSD can manifest at any age, in children, adolescents, and adults, and can also occur in family members and witnesses of traumatic events.