Genetics is the study of genes and how they influence characteristics and health. Through a variety of technological methods, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices, it is possible to alter some genes.

Genes are sections of DNA a person inherits from their biological parents. They contain information for making specific proteins, or segments of proteins, which have differing functions within the body. These proteins lead to the expression of particular physical and biological characteristics or traits.

Some people may inherit or develop genetic variations that affect their health. In some cases, technologies are available that involve using genetic material to help treat, prevent, or cure a health condition by altering a person’s genes. In other cases, exposure to certain factors can change a person’s genes or alter gene expression.

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Gene therapy is a technique that involves modifying a person’s genes to help treat, prevent, or cure a health condition. This therapy provides an alternative to drugs or surgery.

Ongoing research is exploring using gene therapy to treat various health issues, including genetic conditions, infectious conditions, and cancer.

Typically, this technique involves either:

  • replacing a gene that has a variation that causes a condition with a typical copy
  • inactivating a gene that is not functioning correctly, causing a condition
  • introducing a new gene to help treat a condition

Currently, the main therapeutic strategies of gene therapy include:

  • Gene addition: This involves inserting a new copy of a gene to help produce more of a protein.
  • Gene correction: This describes editing part of a gene to remove or replace parts that are not functioning correctly. This helps the gene produce a functioning protein.
  • Gene silencing: This prevents the production of proteins that are contributing to a health condition. This can help with conditions that involve the body producing too much of a specific protein.
  • Reprogramming: This involves adding genes to specific cells to change their characteristics.
  • Cell elimination: This strategy involves destroying cells that are causing damage, such as cancer cells.

Genome editing is a specific method of gene therapy. Instead of introducing new genetic material into cells, genome editing involves using molecular tools to modify the existing DNA in a cell. This can help make changes in physical traits such as reducing disease risk.

Scientists can also use genome editing to investigate different conditions that affect humans. They do this by editing the genomes of animals that have similar genes to humans, such as mice and zebrafish. By editing their genome, researchers can observe how these changes affect the animals’ health.

One of the most well-known methods of genome editing is called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9, known as CRISPR-Cas9.

This technique involves adapting a naturally occurring genome editing system that bacteria use as an immune defense. It allows researchers to do the following:

  • use a cell’s own DNA repair machinery to add or delete pieces of genetic material
  • make changes to the DNA by replacing existing segments with an altered DNA sequence

Epigenetics refers to the study of how cells control gene activity without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes describe reversible chemical modifications that can activate and deactivate parts of the genome and alter the expression of these genes.

As such, epigenetics describes how a person’s environment and behaviors can affect how their genes work. These changes can increase a person’s risk of genetic damage or disease.

Epigenetics affects gene expression by turning genes on and off. This can refer to genes making proteins where or when they normally would not, or not making proteins where and when they normally would. It can also influence how much or how little of a protein they would normally produce.

One way this can occur is through DNA methylation. This involves the addition of a chemical, known as a methyl group, to DNA. Conversely, the removal of a methyl group is known as demethylation. Usually, methylation turns genes off, which reduces protein production, while demethylation turns them on, increasing the amount of protein a cell makes.

It is possible for a person to change their genetics to some degree. Genes are sections of DNA that produce specific proteins, which express a person’s physical and biological traits.

A person may experience a genetic condition that affects the amount or functioning of certain proteins. Ongoing research is investigating the use of gene therapies to treat these conditions. Gene therapies are a variety of methods that may involve adding, removing, or editing genes to help express a suitable amount of functioning proteins.

Various environmental factors and lifestyle choices can also affect gene activity and expression. This is known as epigenetics.