Epigenetic factors involved in the origin of congenital defects related to maternal deficiency of folic acid and other micronutrients
Keywords:
Epigenetics, Epigenetics process, Epigenetics mechanisms, Folic acid, Congenital defectsAbstract
Introduction: the sequencing of the human genome has been one of the most important achievements in the history of science. However, scientists around the world are beginning to realize that knowing the genetic information is not enough to understand the different phenotypic manifestations. The genome codes for a potential information, but the way in which the deoxynucleic acid sequence translates into a certain phenotype does not depend directly on the sequence itself, but on the interaction with environmental factors. This is when epigenetics plays its part. Objective: to provide updated information on the different epigenetic processes involved in the origin of some congenital defects related to folic acid deficiency. Method: the medical literature published in the last five years in Spanish and English was reviewed, Google Academic and PubMed search engines were used, the SciELO and Cochrane digital libraries were consulted, the Medline database was used and appropriate keywords were used. Development: there are different epigenetic mechanisms involved in the origin of congenital defects related to maternal deficiency of folic acid and other micronutrients. Conclusions: the fact that epigenetic alterations, in contrast to genetic changes such as mutations, are reversible has important implications for the implementation of strategies to prevent different congenital defects related to maternal deficiency of folic acid.Downloads
References
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