Epigenetics is the science that studies how environmental cues can activate certain genes and silence others. According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the practice habit physical exercises Genetic benefits may be generated. In today’s article, we’ll talk a little more about this study and about the relationship between epigenetics and physical exercise.
Read more: Know the importance of physical exercise in your daily life
Epigenetics X Physical Exercise
With epigenetics, it was possible to discover that some genes can remain dormant throughout life or be activated by external factors, such as the environment in which you live, eating habits and physical exercise. This last factor intrigued some researchers at Washington State University (WSU) who conducted a study of 70 pairs of identical twins, tracking their exercise habits.
Identical twins were chosen for this study because they have the same DNA and do not share the same health and exercise habits and live in different environments.
consequences
When analyzing the results, it was possible to note that the more physically active twins had reduced epigenetic markers of Down syndrome. metabolism. Given only heredity, regardless of external factors, this cannot happen, as both must present the same result.
Physical exercise acts as a protective factor at the molecular level against the development of metabolic syndromes, which can lead to more serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart problems.
Therefore, these results are strong evidence to prove that physical exercise can cause genetic changes in individuals. However, despite this being significant evidence, the WSU researchers say more research is still needed in the area with the goal of better understanding how these processes occur and how epigenetic inheritance may contribute to our health.
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