NUTRITIONAL MODULATORS OF TRANSGENERATIONAL EPIGENETIC INHERITANCE

Several experts have proposed that genes are the primary units of inheritance and that evolution may be a change in the genetic composition of the population, although molecular mechanisms were unknown in 1942 when Modern Synthesis was published. Nutrition appears to be important in the evolutionary biology, biochemistry, genomics, developmental biology, systems biology. The impact of the diet and environmental factors on genes concerning mechanism of evolution have grown significantly beyond the Modern Synthesis. Epigenetic inheritance is the passing of phenotypic change to subsequent generations in ways that are outside the genetic code of DNA. The interaction of specific nutrient, with the genetic code possessed by all nucleated cells can be recognised. Recently, polymorphisms of the human Delta-5 (FADS1) and Delta-6 (FADS2) desaturase genes have been described to be associated with the level of several long-chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in serum phospholipids. Increased consumption of refined starches and sugar increases generation of superoxide anion in the tissues, and free fatty acids(FFA) in the blood. There is increased amount and activity of nuclear factor-kB(NF-kB), a transcriptional factor regulating the activity of at least 125 genes, most of which are pro-inflammatory. The consumption of glucose may be associated with an increase in two other pro-inflammatory transcription factors; activating protein-1 (AP-1) and early growth response protein-1 (Egr-1). The AP-1 regulates the transcription of matrix metallo-proteinases and the second one modulates the transcription of tissue factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.The dietary factors in general a could be important in the patho-biology of epigenetic inheritance. It may be the basis of evolution of diet and the Tsim Tsoum concept.