Book review: The Epigenetics Revolution

Epigenetics is a rapidly evolving science that is often only described in scientific literature or textbooks. In " The Epigenetics Revolution " , Nessa Carey eloquently bridges the spheres of academia and scientific journalism (Carey, 2012). The phrasing " revolution " is a dramatic use of English that effectively portrays a momentous shift in biological thinking. For the novice, it is a good introduction to epigenetics whilst it provides professional readers with a concise summary of historically significant experiments and translational context. The text is divided into an introduction and 16 chapters which handle various concepts pertaining to epigenetic theory, key experimental studies and the potential for future therapeutic application. Carey starts with some historical context; she illustrates the successes and limitations of the human genome project and quotes some of the arguably overdramatic claims made by various organizations of the time. The first two chapters approach the issue of cellular differentiation by explaining the work of John Gurdon and the concept of a genetic " switch " rather than a loss of unneeded material. The analogy that DNA is a script to be interpreted is a particularly articulate explanation for novice readers. From this, Carey explains the epigenetic underpinnings of pluripotency and explores the potential application of stem cell therapies in regenerative medicine. Chapters 3 and 4 give an overview of genetic and epigenetic molecular biology, including the genetic code, DNA replication, transcription, translation, chromatin, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. These biological concepts are supplemented with an explanation of twin studies to illustrate the profound effect of environmental experience on genetically identical individuals. She makes reference to specific biological signals that induce epigenetic modification e.g. the hormone receptor. In the absence of somatic mutation, Carey also explores how epigenetic modifications can induce cellular abnormalities. Overall, this section provides an excellent narrative that uses famous scientific work to illustrate basic epigenetic concepts which is perfectly suited to novice readers or undergraduate students. Chapter 6 focuses on the heritability of epigenetic modifications. Environmental events such as the Dutch famine have clear effects on the health outcomes of offspring. Carey explains that this only occurs in susceptible regions of the genome and that epigenetic reprogramming during early embryogenesis circumvents the passage of many undesirable or dangerous modifications. Generation X is a very interesting chapter that explains the history of sex determination; an epigenetic process that depends upon tight regulation of X chromosome …