Greeks, Bees and Crocodiles.

Greeks, Bees and Crocodiles!!

A diverse title I’m sure you’ll agree.

The aim of today’s article is to firstly examine a family of anti-ageing genes named after a Greek Goddess, which with certain lifestyle tweaks you can improve the expression of and possibly slow the ageing process.

Then i'd like to explain the process of “Epigenetics”. This will hopefully help to simplify the science for you, as it can be fairly confusing to fully understand both the terminology as well as the actual science.

Muhdo understands that we all come with a set of unique genetic predispositions, but our lifestyle and environments will affect those same genetic traits and either diluted or accentuated them through a process called methylation and epigenetics.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is a process where tiny chemical markers called methyl groups will attach to one of the four nucleotide bases on your DNA (adenine [A], cytosine [C], guanine [G], or thymine [T]). As we naturally age these methyl groups will either hypo (low) or hyper (high) methylate regions across your genome, which will then affect how specific genes and biological processes function, such as your eye sight, hearing and memory.

Chronological ageing is as predictable as night follows day, your date of birth and age cannot be altered. Whereas our biological age and the rate to which we age is a different matter entirely, with your ability to respond alter and adapt to your internal and external environment thanks to epigenetics.

By simply having “Good genes” offers no guarantees to our health and wellbeing, nor does it on living to 100. Muhdo helps to simplify the fact that epigenetics is the intersection’ between genetics, nutrition, and environment and how diet, micronutrients, exercise and sleep can all change the expression of our genes, and all of this at a touch of a button.

For the most part there will be 2 things that you with keep with you for the majority of your life, your mobile phone and your health. And as the symbiosis between humans and AI moves every closer and at an exponential rate, the realisation that the synergy between man and machine could possibly be the panacea for improving our health and longevity.

Muhdo allows each of our users the ability to understand their genetic and epigenetic blueprint, but to then be able to see how their day to day lives such as diet, exercise, sleep and environment are affecting them at a genetic and cellular level.

One area that will affect your epigenome is that of “Nutriepigenomics”, which combines knowledge of nutrigenomics (nutritional genomics) and the effects that epigenetic changes will have on gene expression under the influence of nutritional factors. 

However, the $64,000 question and the key to epigenetics is that the relationship between gene expression and environment is symbiotic and if we only look at one of these areas such as nutrition, we miss the influence and power of the others.

Greek Genes

Now, I’m continually being told by a Greek friend of mine as to why she looks far younger than her years is because of her “Greek Genes”?

Well, there might actually be some rational behind this and a method to her madness!!

Klotho gene

The Klotho gene, which was first identified in 1997 takes its name from Greek mythology. 

Clotho was a Greek goddess and the youngest of the three sisters of Fate. Clotho would spin the thread of life; Lachesis would measure the cloth then Atropos would shear the cloth.

The Klotho family of genes have clearly been identified for their role in regulating the ageing process and age suppression, with over-expression of this group of proteins having been shown to extend the life span in various animal studies.

They have a variety of functions from the metabolism of vitamin D, phosphate and calcium to reducing oxidative stress as well as neuroprotective effects, which all play a major role in the ageing process.

Vitamin D indirectly regulates Klotho expression but mainly through the sun’s rays and or the activated form of vitamin D calcitriol / vitamin D3. This would indicate that vitamin D deficiency has a strong association with cardiovascular diseases and the ageing process. 

Klotho has also been identified as being a key regulator for calcium and phosphate absorption and overall homeostasis, which when coupled with vitamin D also indicates its importance for overall bone strength and overall health. 

So, apart from vitamin D are there any other ways to increase Klothos expression. Well actually yes, interestingly a recent study has shown that short interval high intensity exercise has also shown to increase the expression of Klotho.

This would suggest that getting out in the sun and exercising would help to slow the sands of time!?

Klotho also increases another well-established longevity gene by the name of FOXO3a, which then suggests that Klotho may actually suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related oxidative stress. 

As FOXO3 helps to activate as well as up-regulate the expression of a variety of antioxidant genes, which serve a function similar to eating foods high in antioxidants. One of these is an extremely important enzyme mitochondrial antioxidant named manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD).  

Luckily, we can all activate FOXO3 with a few easy tweaks to our diet and lifestyles, such as incorporating EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) found in white and green tea, which will increase the expression of FOXO3, as will Quercetin found in white onions, apples, berries and peppers, as well as a whole variety of other foods.

Heat stress found in saunas will also activate FOXO3 as saunas help the expression and activation of HSP's (Heat Shock Proteins) which help to repair damaged DNA and proteins. 

A study in Finland found that men who had a sauna 2-3 x per week had a 24% fall in mortality rate, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chances of stroke. Another way to increase these HSP's is light exercise, as raising the core temperature will help activate them. 

Bees and Crocodiles

Now, how on earth will I be able to segue honeybees and crocodiles into the conversation.

Well, when trying to simplify and explain epigenetics they actually prove to be extremely useful.

Why? Well the process by which bee larvae develops into a queen bee as well as how the sex of a crocodile is dictated will basically be through epigenetics.

Genotype does not necessarily determine phenotype, meaning that your genetic code is not the only determining factor with regards to your physical characteristics or traits. 

For instance, some organisms which have identical genetic make up develop under different conditions, such as nutritional / endogenous regulators in the case of the queen bee, and egg temperature / exogenous stressors for the crocodile’s gender.

If we firstly look at honeybees, and how even though they have the same genetic makeup, they will develop into either a drone, worker or the queen bee.

Now, how is this possible as if they share the same genetic code then surely, they should then develop into the same type of bee?

Well no, this is actually where epigenetics largely comes into play. Studies have clearly shown that what a bee is fed will then determine as to which bee develops, with the queen developing after being fed the appropriately named royal jelly.

What specific nutrient, group of nutrients and or the exact composition of the royal jelly which induces the change is still unfortunately unclear. 

Then we have crocodiles, who for the most part have remained unchanged for the best part of 100 million years or so. Crocodiles are extremely unique, as the vast majority of animal’s will have their gender dictated by their genetic code, whereas crocodiles produce predominantly female embryos, which then through environmental triggers (higher temperatures) increase androgenic hormones to become males.  

Hopefully the above 2 examples have provided a simplistic insight into how epigenetics works, and how nature v nurture comes into play.

For more information surrounding epigenetics please head over to muhdo.com.