A brief talk by Joy Kong, MD arguing that genes are not the sole determinant of health; epigenetic mechanisms—particularly DNA methylation patterns and microRNAs that alter gene expression—play a major role and can have long-lasting effects (months to years). The speaker suggests monitoring and modulating these expression patterns could influence repair and long-term health.
Our genes don't fully determine our destiny. I mean, it has something to do with our destiny, but it's not the full picture. The epigenetics, what comes after the gene is formed, how the genes are actually expressed, has profound effects on the person's health. So the methylation patterns is part of that epigenetic expression. Monitoring the expression and these new micrornas coming into the cell nucleus can change the gene expression, can help repair the genes. So that effect can be much longer lasting. That could be months to years.
