DE ladies -- The role of epigenetics

AmCheri · May 2012

I'm intrigued by this both as someone walking down the DE path, but also as someone with a background in genetics. Finding the concept to be comforting, I'd like to know more about it.

If you've researched epigenetics in the context of DE, can you suggest any particularly informative articles or other resources?

ETA: for those who may be unfamiliar, epigenetics in this context is the idea that the birth mom can influence the way that the genetic mom's genes are expressed.

winofairy · May 2012

Sorry I don't have any information or experience with this but I do find it fascinating!

Makes me wish I would've decided on a science major instead of accounting.

I would love to hear more about what you find out!

lynn0926 · May 2012

The only thing that I have read and could not find the research is that in Europe there are studies that show that there is chromosomal crossover. I have not found anything to back this up.

may2806 · May 2012

I also thought this was very interesting and also made me feel a bit better about using DE. I don't have any particular articles to reference though.

Side note: I know what you meant, but I would never refer to the donor as the 'genetic mom' nor would I consider myself the 'birth mom'. In the case of a GC I might refer to the 'genetic mom' but wouldn't call the GC the 'birth mom'... to me it's important that in third-party ART, the third-party never gets to use the word 'mom'

reb259 · May 2012

We were required to have a "counseling" session with an infertility therapist and a genetic counsler. Only the therapist mentioned this and was very vague about it... I can call the genetic counsler and see if she has any info.

AmCheri · May 2012

may2806:
I also thought this was very interesting and also made me feel a bit better about using DE. I don't have any particular articles to reference though.
Side note: I know what you meant, but I would never refer to the donor as the 'genetic mom' nor would I consider myself the 'birth mom'. In the case of a GC I might refer to the 'genetic mom' but wouldn't call the GC the 'birth mom'... to me it's important that in third-party ART, the third-party never gets to use the word 'mom'

Ahhh yes, all good points. My therapist has used the terms I did in the OP, but I absolutely appreciate what you're saying. This is a new language I'm just learning.

Mitzi Bishi · May 2012

Have you watched the documentary "The Ghost in our Genes" or read the book Origins? They are both great and I would highly recommend them if you're even a little interested in epigenetics. Very very fascinating!

Here's a link to the show, which was shown on PBS in the US:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/

reb259 · May 2012

Mitzi Bishi:

Have you watched the documentary "The Ghost in our Genes" or read the book Origins? They are both great and I would highly recommend them if you're even a little interested in epigenetics. Very very fascinating!

Here's a link to the show, which was shown on PBS in the US:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/

This is aswesome...thanks for sharing, can't wait to watch it tonight!

Mitzi Bishi · May 2012

reb259:
Mitzi Bishi:

Have you watched the documentary "The Ghost in our Genes" or read the book Origins? They are both great and I would highly recommend them if you're even a little interested in epigenetics. Very very fascinating!

Here's a link to the show, which was shown on PBS in the US:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genes/

This is aswesome...thanks for sharing, can't wait to watch it tonight!

I was reading a transcript and this is a good way to sum up epigenetics:

"If the thousands of genes identified by the Human Genome Project symbolized the words in the book of life, it was the epigenome that determined how that book got read."

Edwina.McDunnough · May 2012

I recall a nova science now but it focuses on id twins, but they do address changes during puberty and pregnancy.

Not really the same, but there is an interesting freakonomics on nature bs nurture from that perspective. On my device, I can dig up links later if you like.

Thanks for the link, interesting stuff.

AmCheri · May 2012

Mitzi, thanks for the link. Exactly what I'm looking for. Hope you're ok -- you've been so quiet!

Edwina, I'm interested in your info, too, but please don't go to any trouble to find it.

AmCheri · May 2012

reb259:
We were required to have a "counseling" session with an infertility therapist and a genetic counsler. Only the therapist mentioned this and was very vague about it... I can call the genetic counsler and see if she has any info.

Reb, if you're interested in the info, too, that'd be great. Again, I wouldn't want you going to any trouble.

BzeetyD · May 2012

::Lurking::

I find this fascinating as well. In my RESOLVE group there are a few women doing DE and one of them brought up epigenetics. I was intrigued, such interesting ideas.

Thanks for the PBS links too. I love learning about new things.

krod2010 · May 2012

There was an article in National Geographics that talked a little bit about epigenetics. I had tried researching it because of how different my identical twin and I are when it comes to our fertility-her fertility and my infertility. I wondered if I was affected differently in the womb. It is pretty fascinating stuff. Here is the link:

https://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/01/twins/miller-text

JM1977 · May 2012

I remember epphd posting some things about epigenetics in the past. I'm sure she'd be happy to chime in (you could page her on SAIF). Thanks for the post!

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