SYDNEY, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A major study of changes in genes points to better understanding of their interactions with the environment and how they can influence complex conditions like Parkinson's disease, according to a latest Australian-led research.
The analysis of non-inherited changes in genes is "the first large epigenome-wide study to compare changes between people with Parkinson's and those without the disease," according to a Griffith University statement on Friday.
The epigenome consists of chemical compounds and proteins that can attach to DNA and direct actions such as turning genes on or off, controlling protein production in particular cells. Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modifications of gene expression, rather than alteration of the genetic code itself. The researchers studied changes in blood cells from samples taken from about 2,000 people, according to the university.
"This is, by far, the most comprehensive study of epigenetics in Parkinson's disease done anywhere," said Professor George Mellick, a specialist of the degenerative disease and senior leader at the university's research institute.
"While the DNA sequence of genes (the genetic code) controls the structure and function of each cell, there are chemical modifications to the DNA (known as epigenetic tags) that determine which genes are turned on or off in the cell," said Mellick, whose findings were published in scientific journal Nature Communications.
"These epigenetic changes are not 'inherited' in the same way as DNA but can be influenced by things like the environment you live in."
The latest approach may be a useful way to understand the interactions between genes and the environment and how that influences complex diseases, which may in turn help identify people who have been exposed to environmental factors and help researchers understand and modify the risks, according to Mellick.
"In general, it will help researchers learn more about the causes of complex diseases like Parkinson's that impact on more than 100,000 Australians," he said.
