Epigenetics is the science that studies what kind of effects or changes external or environmental factors can produce in gene function, without generating alterations in the DNA sequence.
According to our fertility specialists, “we are the result of interactions between all our genes and their interaction with the environment in which we live, from the time we are in the womb until we die.”
Genetic grief occurs when we must give up our own gametes, generating fear and frustration in some couples. Many women have to face the well-known “genetic grief” . However, this matter covers a still unknown and very interesting topic for our fertility specialists: epigenetics.
DNA, genes and epigenetics (changes in the genetic function without altering the DNA), can be perceived as an abstract concept that we do not fully understand. To understand what epigenetics is, we spoke with a reproductive medicine expert at the IVF Donostia clinic.
Epigenetics plays a very important role in our lives, since we can experience changes in our DNA throughout our lives.
Nutritional factors such as diet, stress, exposure to toxins and certain hormonal changes can cause our epigenetics to change from the time we grow as embryos until we die. These changes can be favourable or unfavourable. Epigenetic changes or modifications not only differentiate us physically or in the way we are, they can also generate diseases such as obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.
Several scientific investigations affirm that the environment and lifestyle of the pregnant mother, regardless of whether she is pregnant with her own or a donor embryo, can influence the expression or suppression of specific traits in the embryo, resulting in modifications, which can be observed in the process of transmission of diseases such as diabetes or obesity.
The literal meaning of epigenetics is “over and above the genome”. Interestingly, we observe that each gene, as we saw in the preimplantation genetic test for aneuploidy contains 2 copies that are usually read equally – one inherited from the sperm and the other from the egg. However, there are about 100 genes in which only one of these copies is read. This phenomenon is called “genomic imprinting”.
If these mechanisms do not work properly and both or neither copies are read, diseases such as Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome or Silver Russell syndrome can develop. In addition, there are certain stages during a baby’s development when genetics, due to these environmental factors, are more susceptible to changes in the DNA.
These stages are:
As Dr. Rodriguez explains that “we are the result of our interactions with the environment“, it has been demonstrated that the uterine environment, the body of the pregnant mother, the care during pregnancy, the environment in which the baby develops during pregnancy, regardless of whether the gametes are from donors, are fundamental factors that will inevitably influence the baby’s epigenetics and, therefore, will be reflected in its physical characteristics and its health.
In all the clinics of our IVF-Life group, we offer extensive information for all patients that are going to undergo egg donation treatment , emphasising that the DNA of the donated egg is not the main factor that influences the development of the future baby. There are many factors that influence the development of the baby to the person he or she will eventually become.
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that the environment such as dietary habits, exposure to certain toxins or the lifestyle of the mother has effects and consequences on the development of the future baby. It is a recognised fact in terms of epigenetics that the pregnant mother has an influence on the genetics of the embryo developing in her womb.
All this shows that pregnant mothers who undergo gamete donation treatment will develop biological and, to a certain degree, also genetic ties with their future children, thus proving that they will share much more with them than just the womb in which they grew. Such gamete donation treatments can be embryo adoption and egg and/or sperm donation.
As mentioned above, epigenetics acts as a bridge between genes and the environment. In other words, the environment can cause certain changes in the gene function – without modifying the DNA sequence – causing, among other things, certain traits to manifest themselves rather than others. These changes can occur throughout our entire lives, including embryonic development in the womb.
The different assisted reproduction techniques offered at IVF-Life are an opportunity for many couples suffering from infertility or a high risk of passing on genetic disorders to have healthy children. However, there is always the concern that any of these actions may have unintended consequences for the children. That is why epigenetic modifications will be the signals to determine which genes are expressed in which cells and that a correct embryonic development takes place.
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