Medical Epigenetics provides a comprehensive analysis of the importance of epigenetics to health management. The purpose of this book is to fill a current need for a comprehensive volume on the medical aspects of epigenetics with a focus on human systems, epigenetic diseases that affect these systems and modes of treating epigenetic-based disorders and diseases. The intent of this book is to provide a stand-alone comprehensive volume that will cover all human systems relevant to epigenetic maladies and all major aspects of medical epigenetics. The overall goal is to provide the leading book on medical epigenetics that will be useful not only to physicians, nurses, medical students and many others directly involved with health care, but also investigators in life sciences, biotech companies, graduate students and many others who are interested in more applied aspects of epigenetics. Research in the area of translational epigenetics is a cornerstone of this volume. Critical reviews dedicated to the burgeoning role of epigenetics in medical practice Coverage of emerging topics including twin epigenetics as well as epigenetics of gastrointestinal disease, muscle disorders, endocrine disorders, ocular medicine, pediatric diseases, sports medicine, noncoding RNA therapeutics, pain management and regenerative medicine Encompasses a disease-oriented perspective of medical epigenetics as well as diagnostic and prognostic epigenetic approaches to applied medicine

Handbook of Epigenetics: The New Molecular and Medical Genetics, Second Edition, provides a comprehensive analysis of epigenetics, from basic biology, to clinical application. Epigenetics is considered by many to be the new genetics in that many biological phenomena are controlled, not through gene mutations, but rather through reversible and heritable epigenetic processes. These epigenetic processes range from DNA methylation to prions. The biological processes impacted by epigenetics are vast and encompass effects in lower organisms and humans that include tissue and organ regeneration, X-chromosome inactivation, stem cell differentiation, genomic imprinting, and aging. The first edition of this important work received excellent reviews; the second edition continues its comprehensive coverage adding more current research and new topics based on customer and reader reviews, including new discoveries, approved therapeutics, and clinical trials. From molecular mechanisms and epigenetic technology, to discoveries in human disease and clinical epigenetics, the nature and applications of the science is presented for those with interests ranging from the fundamental basis of epigenetics, to therapeutic interventions for epigenetic-based disorders. Timely and comprehensive collection of fully up-to-date reviews on epigenetics that are organized into one volume and written by leading figures in the field Covers the latest advances in many different areas of epigenetics, ranging from basic aspects, to technologies, to clinical medicine Written at a verbal and technical level that can be understood by scientists and college students Updated to include new epigenetic discoveries, newly approved therapeutics, and clinical trials

The present volume of Epigenetics and Human Health is devoted to the patho-epigenetics of viral and microbial infections, an exiting new field of disease-related epigenetic research. As recognized during the past years, epigenetic reprogramming of pathogen and host genome functions – the latter frequently induced by pathogens – plays an important role in many infectious processes. Beyond their immediate relevance for pathogen proliferation and obligatorily associated symptoms, such alterations frequently contribute to severe additional complications, such as the development of immunodeficiency, cancer and various chronic disorders. This holds in particular for epigenetic dysregulation of host gene expression induced by latent infections. The present book summarizes current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying epigenetic changes caused by viral, bacterial, fungal and protozoan infections and their impact on human health.

This open access textbook leads the reader from basic concepts of chromatin structure and function and RNA mechanisms to the understanding of epigenetics, imprinting, regeneration and reprogramming. The textbook treats epigenetic phenomena in animals, as well as plants. Written by four internationally known experts and senior lecturers in this field, it provides a valuable tool for Master- and PhD- students who need to comprehend the principles of epigenetics, or wish to gain a deeper knowledge in this field. After reading this book, the student will: Have an understanding of the basic toolbox of epigenetic regulation Know how genetic and epigenetic information layers are interconnected Be able to explain complex epigenetic phenomena by understanding the structures and principles of the underlying molecular mechanisms Understand how misregulated epigenetic mechanisms can lead to disease

Anomalous epigenetic patterns touch many areas of study including biomedical, scientific, and industrial. With perspectives from international experts, this resource offers an all-inclusive overview of epigenetics, which bridge DNA information and function by regulating gene expression without modifying the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetics, in its

"After reviewing the field's history and context, the authors introduce and explain each key epigenetic mechanism. Next, they extensively discuss the roles these mechanisms may play in inheritance, development, health and disease, behavior, evolution, ecology, and the interactions of individual organisms with their environments"--Page 4 of cover.

In genetic pathology, epigenetic testing is rare and under utilised. In this book, we introduce epigenetics to a non-expert scientific audience and describe current and future clinical utility of epigenetic testing. By focussing on epigenetics in human disease this book will guide professionals (scientists and clinicians) to understand how epigenetics is relevant in a clinical context, and to implement epigenetic testing in diagnostic laboratories. The book begins with a historical perspective of genetics and epigenetics and describes the work of pioneers who have helped shape these fields. The various mechanisms by which epigenetics can regulate the function of the genome is described. These include DNA methylation, histone modifications, histone variants, nucleosome positioning, cis-regulatory elements, non-coding RNAs and the three-dimensional organisation of chromatin in the nucleus. These are discussed in the context of embryological development, cancer and imprinting disorders, and include examples of epigenetic changes that can be used in diagnosis, prediction of therapeutic response, prognostication or disease monitoring. Finally, for those wishing to implement epigenetic testing in a diagnostic setting, the book includes a case study that illustrates the clinical utility of epigenetic testing.