An Epigenetic Factor in Increased Infant Mortality
Oct 16, 2006 environmental alterations, news links
Epigenetics may play a role in the higher rates of infant mortality and low birth weight babies born to black women. The News and Advance reports this from Dr. Michael Lu of the UCLA School of Medicine and School of Public Health, as well as a co-principal investigator on a three-year, $15 million study on improving birth outcomes in Los Angeles.
- One hypothesis Lu cited is that during critical periods of development the fetus is impacted by the mother’s level of stress and the hormones it produces, which pass through the placenta. For critical developmental periods, that may affect organs or organ development in a way that “they don’t function optimally for an entire life course.”
He said the new field of “epigenetics” takes the concept to the molecular level, as a “volume control for genes.” Gene expression can be turned up or down, switched on or off, by environmental exposure, “including pre-natal exposure.”
With this theory, he said, identical genetic codes could play out very differently if one was developed under very high stress.
Stress affects immune function, and some infections increase the possibility of pre-term labor, which leads to early delivery and low birth-weight babies.
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November 19th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Dear researcher,
Thank you for the research and article on an epigenetic factor in increased infant mortality.
I am in the process of writing a book which is called How Not To Raise Kids. The whole point of writing the book is to show parents how THEIR OWN stresslevels are affecting their children and their children’s future. I believe that this research article beautifully illustrates that point. With your permission I will provide a link on my website to this research for my readers.
Sincerely,
Amelia Watkins