Posted: June 14th, 2023

Epigenetics and Its Implications: A Personal Reflection

The Reaction Paper Assignment
One of your options for the Student Project is to complete a Reaction Paper. If you choose this option, you will be writing a 1,000-word Reaction Paper using the instructions and links found below. You will be completing the following tasks and gathering the following information for your paper:
1. Watch the epigenetics video from PBS available on YouTube below. Begin your paper by defining epigenetics in your own words and discussing your reaction to the video.

2. Interview your family members and complete the Family History Worksheet by Dr. Oz Download Family History Worksheet by Dr. Oz. Find out which disease(s) you are most at risk for. Select the disease you want to learn more about.
3. Research and locate one article on epigenetics and whatever disease you are most at risk for (select a study on research conducted on humans) from a reputable academic source:
Reputable Sources:
• journal articles
• government publications based on research
Do not use:
• magazines of any sort, whether they are on paper or online
• Websites of any type, including epigenetics websites
• Wikipedia
How to Perform Your Research
• Use the College Library in person or online (log in with your new MDC ID number (the one that is all numbers). Your password is the last four digits of that same MDC ID unless you have changed it.
Read the epigenetics article you find. Continue your paper with a discussion of the epigenetics article. Be sure to paraphrase (put things in your own words) and be sure to cite the author(s) of the article you find using APA style (see the section below on using APA style). Aim for about a page for this part of your paper.
4. Discuss the concept of epigenesis in light of your family history and the article you read. Aim for one page for this section of your paper.
5. Complete the Living to 100 Questionnaires. Integrate your findings on the questionnaire into your discussion. Aim for another page.
6. Discuss how you can improve your health and longevity in light of your findings in this questionnaire, your understanding of epigenetics, and your knowledge of your family history. This should be your final page.
You can go over or under a page for any of the sections of the paper as long as your total paper is 1,000 words not counting the references.
General Rules for an “A” Paper (check your paper against this list)
◻ 1,000 words
◻ Original work; plagiarism score of less than 10% (90% original work)
◻ Double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
◻ Covers all 6 tasks
◻ Spellchecked
◻ College-level grammar
◻ Cite your article APA style (author & year within the body of the paper; full reference at end)
◻ No abstract, no cover
◻ Place your name and reference number on the first page. Use page numbers.
Submit the paper by the deadline in the Schedule and also in the Calendar. The box will open at the beginning of the semester so that you have time to submit your paper, review the originality report, and resubmit your paper if necessary until you have a plagiarism score of under 10%. Be sure to use the Turnitin Grammar Checker to ensure that your paper is well written and ensure that you have spellchecked everything. If you resubmit your paper, note that it takes 24 hours for your new score to show up in the Turnitin DropBox.
Submission to Turnitin Drop Box
The Turnitin Drop Box is in Canvas. You do not have to go to Turnitin to submit your paper. Turnitin is a plagiarism-checking software. It checks to see if your work is original. I have set the Turnitin Drop Box so you can submit your paper as many times as you want until the due date. That will allow you to check your plagiarism score and see where your work is not original. You can then rephrase that section and put it into your own words. The expectation in this course is that your paper scores no more than 10% in plagiarism (90% original work). You will be able to resubmit your paper as many times as you need to in order to get it right until the Due Date. You will NOT be able to resubmit after the Due Date. Note that it takes 24 hours to see your new plagiarism score after resubmission. No more than 2 or 3 quotes in the entire paper, please.
Avoiding Plagiarism
You must be careful not to copy someone else’s ideas and not to copy and paste ideas from the sources you find. Copying and pasting from someone else’s work are considered plagiarism. You may use other people’s ideas, but you have to put them in your own words and reference the source. Putting things in your own words is called “paraphrasing.” And you must put the reference right after the idea. Needless to say, submitting plagiarized papers, including those copied from one of the Web sites that have “free” papers or even papers you can buy, will result in a penalty. That penalty in this course is that your grade will be reduced by the percentage of plagiarism over 10%. In other words, the less plagiarism, the higher your score; the more plagiarism, the lower your score. The paper is worth 10% of your grade in this course. Don’t risk it!
APA Style and References
One thing you will need to do in college is learning how to find and use references. References support your ideas. College-level work must be supported by research. You are expected to do that for this paper. You will research, locate, and use one reputable source from the literature on the topic of epigenetics/epigenesis. The “literature” is composed of studies that have been conducted in a scholarly way to support ideas. Scholarly sources can be found in journals or on some Web sites, especially those that come from .edu domains (.edu is short for “educational” Web sites) or .gov domains (.gov are government sites). The College Libraries have dozens of good journals you can use. You will be using the College Library for this paper. You may do the research in person or use the Web to access our library. See your librarian for more information on finding credible sources.
In APA style, you cite a source in two places: within the body of the paper where you use the idea or words of the author of the paper; and again in the Reference List at the end of the paper. For example, you might say, “According to Researcher A (2011)…epigenetics is…” What you must do is supply the researcher’s name within a sentence or at the end of a sentence in parenthesis (Smith, 2011). Then you give the full information for locating the study in the Reference List. That’s what Reference Lists are for: they allow the person reading your paper to look up your source if they want to. So remember, citing references APA style, requires two things: 1) that you cite the reference within the body of the paper, and 2) that you list the full reference at the end in the Reference List.
APA Tutorial
There are multiple tutorials and other training sources on APA style at the APA Web site. You do NOT have to buy the APA Manual to do this paper.
References
American Psychological Association (2011). APA style. Retrieved from http://www.apastyle.org/index.aspx

Social Science – Philosophy Reaction Assignment

_______________________
Epigenetics and Its Implications: A Personal Reflection

Introduction:
Epigenetics, as defined in my own words, is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without altering the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be influenced by various factors such as the environment, lifestyle, and individual experiences. In this reaction paper, I will discuss my response to a PBS video on epigenetics, explore my family history to identify diseases I may be at risk for, and analyze an academic article linking epigenetics to a specific disease. Furthermore, I will reflect on the concept of epigenesis in light of my family history and the article, integrating the findings from the Living to 100 Questionnaires. Finally, I will discuss strategies to improve my health and longevity based on the insights gained from this exploration.

Reaction to the PBS Video on Epigenetics:
The PBS video on epigenetics provided a captivating overview of this fascinating field. It explained how genes are not fixed entities but can be influenced by external factors. One of the key takeaways for me was the concept of “epigenetic marks” that act as a switch to turn genes on or off, affecting gene expression. The video emphasized the potential impact of epigenetic changes in various aspects of life, including health, disease susceptibility, and even behavior.

I found the video particularly intriguing because it challenged the traditional belief that our genetic destiny is predetermined. It shed light on how environmental factors, such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins, can shape our genetic expression and subsequently influence our health outcomes. This notion of gene-environment interactions adds a dynamic dimension to our understanding of biology and has profound implications for personalized medicine and disease prevention.

Family History Worksheet and Identifying Disease Risk:
To gain a deeper understanding of my genetic predisposition, I interviewed my family members and completed the Family History Worksheet by Dr. Oz. This exercise allowed me to recognize the diseases that run in my family and identify the disease I am most at risk for.

Among the diseases mentioned in my family history, cardiovascular disease emerged as a prevalent concern. Given this risk, I decided to delve into the connection between epigenetics and cardiovascular disease through academic research.

Epigenetics and Cardiovascular Disease:
In my research, I found an article titled “Epigenetic Modifications in Cardiovascular Disease” published in a reputable academic journal. The study explored the role of epigenetic modifications in cardiovascular disease development, specifically focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. The findings highlighted how epigenetic changes can alter gene expression patterns associated with cardiovascular risk factors and contribute to the development and progression of heart disease.

The concept of epigenesis implies that environmental factors and lifestyle choices can influence the epigenetic modifications associated with cardiovascular disease. By analyzing the article, I gained insights into the intricate mechanisms by which epigenetics and gene regulation play a pivotal role in cardiovascular health. This information reinforced the significance of adopting a holistic approach to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease, considering both genetic predispositions and modifiable lifestyle factors.

Living to 100 Questionnaires and Implications:
To further explore the factors influencing health and longevity, I completed the Living to 100 Questionnaires. The results provided valuable insights into my lifestyle choices, habits, and health indicators that may impact my longevity. The questionnaires covered areas such as physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and social connections.

Upon analyzing the questionnaire findings, I identified areas where improvements can be made to enhance my health and increase my chances of living a longer, healthier life. For instance, I recognized the importance of regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress reduction techniques to mitigate the potential negative impact of epigenetic changes associated with cardiovascular disease.

Improving Health and Longevity:
Based on the understanding gained from the questionnaires

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