PLT Test Blog

I have touched on the subject of epigenetics in a previous post; it is a new area of science that shows how the environment can modify your genes.   Rather than you being purely a product of your parents’ genes, you actually also have both your own environmentally acquired epigenetic changes, and some of the acquired epigenetic changes of your ancestors. These acquired epigenetic changes are caused by things like emotional trauma, chemical insults and even smoking. Epigenetic control systems generally involve three types of proteins: “writers”, “readers”, and “erasers.” Writers attach chemical marks, such as methyl groups (to DNA) or acetyl groups (to the histone proteins that DNA wraps around). So-called “readers” bind to these marks, thereby influencing gene expression; erasers remove the marks.   In theory epigenetic changes should be reversible, but this is not simple. You may recall in an earlier post about asthma, we learnt that it is very hard to treat former smokers. ...

You may have noticed a week ago SAP, the German software giant, announced that it will in future try to ensure that 1% of its 60,000 workforce are autistic.   This attracted quite a lot of publicity.   It might have been kinder if they had referred to Asperger’s, or at least High Functioning Autism. Not all autistic people are savants or computer wizz kids. When it comes to TV, the messages are often either trivial or sensational.   But, t hanks to the internet, you can access very relevant and intelligent films, and all for free. The MIND Institute at the University of California in Sacramento, has a rich library of material, from some very well qualified people.   http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/videos/video_autism.html These films are typically an hour long and cover many of the subjects that have appeared in this blog.   If you are a fan of Temple Grandin, you can even watch her film.   I liked the one by Deborah Fein, halfway down the li...