A
recent study at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine has found major "switches" in individuals genetic code that are linked to colon cancer. The term "
epigenetics" refers not to one's DNA sequence, but to the specific proteins that bind to the DNA. Studies in the last few years have shown that epigenetic factors have the ability to turn genes "on" and "off". Similar breakthrough studies have been conducted for breast and lung cancer. The master "switches" found in this study have been named "Variant Enhancer Loci" or VEL's. The presence of certain epigenetic factors has been shown to be significant in an individuals susceptibility to colon cancer.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="460" caption="The stages of Colon Cancer"]
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After completing the human genome project roughly ten years ago, it has become apparent that we are just scratching the surface in our knowledge of genetics. The epigenome, which has proven to be more complex and intricate, controls the very execution of our genes. To understand this new code in a way that will help to treat the over 100,000 people in the United States with colon cancer is something that should be further looked into.
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