Epigenetics: How Our Lifestyle, Environment and Experiences Influence the Way Our Genes Work

Understanding the science of gene expression, disease prevention, healthy ageing and the future of personalised medicine

By Suman Munshi, Chief Editor, IBG NEWS

Imagine that every human being is born with an enormous instruction book called DNA. This book contains almost all the biological instructions required to build and operate the human body. Yet, an interesting question arises: If almost every cell in our body carries essentially the same DNA, why does a brain cell behave differently from a heart cell, a liver cell or a skin cell?

The answer lies partly in a fascinating branch of modern biology called Epigenetics.

Epigenetics is helping scientists understand how our genes respond to ageing, nutrition, physical activity, environmental pollution, stress and several other influences. It is also opening new possibilities in cancer research, regenerative medicine, neurological research and personalised healthcare.

Perhaps the most exciting message of this science is that our biological health is not determined by our inherited genetic code alone. The way our genes function is also influenced by a complex system of biological regulation.

1. What exactly is Epigenetics?

The word Epigenetics refers to biological changes that influence how genes function without changing the basic DNA sequence itself.

To understand this, consider DNA as a computer’s operating system or a large instruction manual.

• DNA is the original instruction book.

• Genes are individual instructions within that book.

• Epigenetics acts like a system of switches and controls, deciding which instructions should be used, when they should be used and how actively they should operate.

Some genes need to be active in particular cells, while others must remain inactive.

For example, a muscle cell needs instructions for muscle development and contraction. A nerve cell requires instructions for transmitting electrical and chemical signals. Although their DNA is essentially the same, their activities differ because different groups of genes are switched on or off.

Epigenetics helps make this specialisation possible.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the US National Institutes of Health explain that epigenetic modifications regulate gene activity without changing the underlying DNA sequence.

2. How does Epigenetics work?

Scientists have identified several mechanisms through which epigenetic regulation takes place. Three important mechanisms are particularly useful for understanding the subject.

A. DNA Methylation

DNA methylation involves attaching small chemical groups called methyl groups to particular locations on DNA.

Think of it as placing a temporary instruction label on a page of a book.

Depending on the location and biological context, methylation can reduce or alter the activity of a gene. It is an important mechanism through which cells regulate gene expression.

B. Histone Modification

DNA is extremely long and must be carefully packed inside the nucleus of a cell. It wraps around proteins called histones.

Imagine a long thread wound around small spools. If the thread is tightly packed, certain sections become less accessible. If the packaging becomes more relaxed, other sections may become accessible to the cell’s gene-reading machinery.

Chemical modifications to histones help regulate this packaging and influence gene activity.

C. Non-coding RNA

Not every RNA molecule produces a protein. Some RNA molecules help regulate how genes behave.

Certain non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, can influence the production of proteins by controlling gene expression.

Together, these mechanisms form an important part of the epigenetic regulatory system.

3. Can our lifestyle influence our genes?

This is where epigenetics becomes particularly relevant to ordinary people.

Our body continuously interacts with its surroundings. Food, exercise, sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption, environmental pollution, ageing and certain forms of stress can influence biological processes, including epigenetic regulation.

However, it is important to understand that these influences do not produce identical effects in every person. Nor does every lifestyle change produce a predictable epigenetic result.

Here are some important areas of research.

Nutrition and epigenetics

Food provides more than energy. Nutrients also participate in the biochemical processes involved in DNA methylation and other forms of gene regulation.

Some important nutrients include:

• Folate, found in green leafy vegetables, pulses and legumes.

• Vitamin B12, found in animal foods and fortified foods.

• Choline, found in eggs, fish and certain other foods.

• Vitamin B6, found in bananas, chickpeas and other foods.

• Methionine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods.

These nutrients participate in biochemical pathways that help the body produce and regulate methyl groups.

A balanced diet containing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses, nuts and appropriate protein sources supports normal metabolic and cellular functions.

Important: Eating a particular food does not guarantee that a disease-related gene will be switched off. The relationship between nutrition and epigenetic regulation is complex.

Physical exercise

Regular physical activity influences several biological pathways associated with metabolism, inflammation, insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health.

Research indicates that exercise can also influence DNA methylation and other epigenetic markers in skeletal muscle and other tissues.

Walking, swimming, cycling, yoga and strength training can therefore contribute to better health through multiple mechanisms.

The objective is not to manipulate individual genes but to create a healthier biological environment.

Sleep and biological rhythm

Sleep is essential for the body’s repair, recovery and hormonal regulation.

The body’s internal biological clock, known as the circadian rhythm, regulates many processes, including metabolism, hormone production and cellular activity.

Researchers are investigating how disrupted sleep patterns and irregular biological rhythms interact with epigenetic mechanisms.

Maintaining regular sleeping hours and adequate sleep is an important part of preventive healthcare.

Stress and mental wellbeing

Long-term psychological stress can influence hormonal and immune-system activity.

Researchers have identified associations between chronic stress, stress-related biological pathways and epigenetic changes.

Some studies have investigated changes in DNA methylation associated with the body’s stress-response system.

This does not mean that every stressful experience permanently changes our genes. It means that the relationship between mental wellbeing and biological health deserves serious scientific attention.

Meditation, relaxation, social support, physical activity and appropriate mental healthcare can support overall wellbeing.

Environmental pollution

Exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution, industrial chemicals and certain environmental contaminants has been associated with epigenetic changes.

This is particularly important for countries such as India, where air pollution and occupational environmental exposure are major public-health concerns.

Epigenetic research may help scientists understand how environmental exposures influence biological processes and disease risks.

4. Epigenetics and the development of diseases

One of the most important applications of epigenetic research is understanding the development and progression of diseases.

A disease does not always arise because the DNA sequence itself has changed. Sometimes, the regulation of genes becomes abnormal.

This can affect the production of proteins responsible for normal cellular activities.

Some important research areas include:

Cancer: Abnormal DNA methylation and histone modifications can affect genes that control cell growth, DNA repair and programmed cell death. These changes may contribute to cancer development and progression.

Diabetes and metabolic disorders: Researchers are studying how epigenetic regulation interacts with insulin production, insulin sensitivity, obesity and glucose metabolism.

Cardiovascular disease: Epigenetic mechanisms are being investigated in inflammation, blood-vessel function and metabolic risk factors associated with heart disease.

Neurological disorders: Scientists are exploring the relationship between epigenetic regulation, brain development, memory, ageing and neurodegenerative conditions.

Immune-system disorders: Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the development and functioning of immune cells. Its abnormal regulation is being investigated in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

It is important to distinguish association from causation. Finding an epigenetic marker associated with a disease does not automatically establish that the marker caused that disease.

5. Epigenetics and cancer treatment: A major medical breakthrough

Cancer research is one of the most promising areas of clinical epigenetics.

Traditionally, cancer treatment has concentrated on destroying cancer cells through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted medicines.

However, scientists have discovered that certain cancers also involve abnormal epigenetic regulation.

In some cancer cells, genes responsible for controlling cell growth may become abnormally silenced. In other situations, genes that support uncontrolled growth may become excessively active.

This has led to the development of medicines known as epigenetic therapies.

Some examples include:

• DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, which interfere with abnormal DNA methylation.

• Histone deacetylase inhibitors, which alter histone-related gene regulation.

Certain medicines belonging to these categories are already approved for specific blood cancers and related conditions.

For example, azacitidine and decitabine are DNA methyltransferase inhibitors used in particular myeloid disorders. Some histone deacetylase inhibitors are also used in selected cancer settings.

These medicines do not work for every cancer, and their use depends on the specific diagnosis and clinical circumstances.

The exciting possibility is that scientists may increasingly be able to influence abnormal gene regulation as part of cancer treatment.

6. Epigenetics and ageing: Can we understand biological age?

One of the most interesting developments in this field is the study of epigenetic clocks.

Chronological age tells us how many years a person has lived. Biological age attempts to estimate aspects of the body’s biological condition.

Scientists have developed research tools that analyse DNA methylation patterns at selected locations across the genome. Some of these patterns are associated with ageing.

These tools are known as epigenetic clocks.

They have attracted considerable interest because they may help researchers investigate:

• Biological ageing.

• Age-related disease risks.

• The relationship between lifestyle and ageing.

• Differences in the ageing process between individuals.

• Possible effects of future health interventions.

However, an epigenetic clock is not a definitive measure of a person’s health, life expectancy or actual rate of ageing. Different clocks measure different biological features, and their clinical applications remain an active research area.

The long-term objective is to understand ageing more accurately and develop better strategies for maintaining health throughout life.

7. Can epigenetic changes be reversed?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions.

The answer is that many epigenetic modifications are dynamic and can be altered, although not all changes are easily reversible.

Unlike a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence, certain epigenetic marks can be added, removed or modified by cellular processes.

This provides an important opportunity for medical research.

Scientists are investigating whether abnormal gene-regulation patterns can be corrected through:

1. Medicines that target epigenetic enzymes.

2. Better understanding of nutritional influences.

3. Lifestyle-based interventions.

4. Advanced gene-regulation technologies.

5. Cell-based and regenerative therapies.

A particularly exciting development is epigenetic editing.

Instead of changing the DNA sequence, this emerging technology attempts to modify epigenetic marks at selected locations to influence the activity of particular genes.

A 2025 review in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, published in November 2025 and included in Volume 25 (2026), discusses the progress of epigenetic editing and its movement towards clinical applications.

The field has reached early clinical-trial investigation, but major challenges remain, including accuracy, safety, delivery and maintaining the desired effect.

8. Can parents pass epigenetic changes to their children?

This is a fascinating but scientifically complicated subject.

Children inherit DNA from their biological parents. Scientists are also investigating whether certain epigenetic information can pass between generations.

Some epigenetic mechanisms are known to be involved in processes such as genomic imprinting, where the activity of a gene depends on whether it was inherited from the mother or father.

However, most epigenetic marks are extensively reprogrammed during the formation of reproductive cells and early embryonic development.

Although evidence of epigenetic inheritance exists in several organisms, demonstrating true transgenerational inheritance in humans is difficult.

Therefore, the popular claim that a person’s lifestyle or experiences automatically change the genes of their grandchildren is not scientifically established.

Research in this area continues to develop.

9. Epigenetics and the future of personalised medicine

Modern medicine is gradually moving towards personalised healthcare.

Traditionally, patients with the same diagnosis often receive similar treatment protocols. However, two individuals with the same disease may respond differently to the same medicine.

Epigenetic research may help explain some of these differences.

In the future, the integration of genetic information, epigenetic profiles, medical history and lifestyle information could help doctors make more informed decisions.

Some promising applications include:

• Early disease detection: Investigating epigenetic biomarkers that may identify certain diseases.

• Cancer management: Identifying molecular changes that may help guide treatment.

• Personalised treatment: Understanding differences in gene regulation and treatment response.

• Preventive healthcare: Studying how environmental and lifestyle factors interact with disease risks.

• Regenerative medicine: Investigating how cells can be reprogrammed to acquire specialised functions.

• Ageing research: Developing better tools to study biological ageing and age-associated conditions.

Epigenetic biomarkers are already being investigated and used in selected clinical settings, but their usefulness varies by disease and application.

The future challenge is to translate promising laboratory discoveries into safe, affordable and clinically reliable healthcare solutions.

10. How can ordinary people benefit from understanding Epigenetics?

A person does not need to become a scientist to understand the practical importance of epigenetics.

There are several sensible steps that support overall health and may also influence biological pathways involved in epigenetic regulation.

These are evidence-based health practices, not guaranteed methods of changing specific genes.

There is no scientifically established universal epigenetic diet, supplement or lifestyle programme that can switch off all disease-causing genes.

People should also be cautious about commercial companies promising to reverse ageing or cure diseases through unvalidated epigenetic tests and treatments.

11. Why should young students study Epigenetics?

Epigenetics is an interdisciplinary scientific field. It brings together several branches of knowledge:

• Genetics and molecular biology.

• Biochemistry.

• Biotechnology.

• Cell biology.

• Bioinformatics and computational biology.

• Biomedical science.

• Pharmacology.

• Neuroscience.

Students interested in biology, medicine, biotechnology and scientific research can explore epigenetics as a specialised academic and professional direction.

Its growing importance also creates opportunities in pharmaceutical research, cancer biology, molecular diagnostics, clinical research, biotechnology industries and academic institutions.

For India, this is a particularly interesting area because of the growing importance of biotechnology, precision medicine, genomics and biomedical research.

Universities and research institutions can contribute significantly by encouraging interdisciplinary education and providing access to advanced laboratory facilities.

12. The Indian opportunity: Epigenetics and public health

India faces a complex combination of public-health challenges, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, environmental pollution and nutritional inequalities.

Epigenetics offers researchers an additional way to investigate how biological inheritance interacts with nutrition, environmental exposure, ageing and lifestyle.

Indian research institutions could explore several important questions:

1. How do nutritional deficiencies influence epigenetic regulation?

2. What is the relationship between air pollution and epigenetic changes?

3. Can epigenetic biomarkers improve selected cancer-detection strategies?

4. How do metabolic disorders interact with epigenetic mechanisms?

5. Can affordable epigenetic diagnostic technologies be developed in India?

6. How can Indian population-based research contribute to personalised healthcare?

The development of indigenous research capabilities in this field could support India’s biotechnology and biomedical research ecosystem.

Conclusion: Our genes provide the blueprint, but biology is constantly responding to life

Epigenetics is changing the way scientists understand the relationship between our genes, our environment and our health.

It demonstrates that DNA is not the only factor influencing how our bodies function. The regulation of genes is equally important in determining how cells develop, adapt and respond to their surroundings.

The science does not suggest that we can control every disease through positive thinking, food or exercise. Nor does it mean that inherited genetic risks can simply be erased.

Rather, it offers a more comprehensive understanding of human biology.

Perhaps the greatest contribution of epigenetics is that it encourages us to look beyond the genetic code and understand the continuous interaction between biology and life experiences.

As research progresses, epigenetics may become an increasingly important part of preventive medicine, cancer treatment, regenerative science and personalised healthcare.

Understanding our genes is important. Understanding how our genes work may be the next great frontier of medicine.

Scientific references and further reading

The following are authoritative scientific and government resources supporting the scientific explanations and medical applications discussed in this article.

1. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), USA — Epigenetics, updated November 2026.
Read the NHGRI Epigenetics explanation.

2. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), USA — Epigenetics and environmental influences.
NIEHS: Epigenetics.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA — Epigenetics, Health, and Disease, January 2025.
CDC: Epigenetics, Health and Disease.

4. MedlinePlus Genetics, National Library of Medicine (NIH) — What is Epigenetics?
MedlinePlus: Understanding the Epigenome.

5. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), NIH — Epigenetic Mechanisms and molecular regulation.
NCBI Bookshelf: Epigenetics.

6. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (2026) — Heller EA, Bintu L, Rots MG. Epigenetic editing: from concept to clinic. Published November 24, 2025.
Read the Nature Reviews Drug Discovery article.

7. Nature Reviews Genetics (2025) — Webster AK, Phillips PC. Epigenetics and individuality: from concepts to causality across timescales.
Read the Nature Reviews Genetics article.

8. Nature Reviews Genetics (2022) — Fitz-James MH, Cavalli G. Molecular mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Read the scientific review.

IBG NEWS | HEALTH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Article by: Suman Munshi, Chief Editor, IBG NEWS