Latest news with #epigenetics
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
French Lamarckism beats Darwinism in China's groundbreaking study on evolution
In a fundamental challenge to more than a century of Darwinian dominance, Chinese scientists have revived a long-dismissed evolutionary theory by proving that acquired traits can shape heredity – no DNA changes required. According to a landmark study published in the esteemed scientific journal Cell, rice plants subjected to cold stress passed on an adaptive tolerance to low temperatures across five generations, bypassing the genetic mutations that are central to Darwinism. The breakthrough reignites the 19th-century rivalry between French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck – whose 'giraffe theory' proposed that organisms can pass on learned survival traits – and Charles Darwin's ideas about random genetic variation. The research not only mirrored Lamarck's famed giraffe-neck parable, by pinpointing heritable DNA methylation changes as the driver of cold adaptation in crops, it also challenges modern biology to reconcile epigenetics with evolution's core principles. The team, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences , showed that rice varieties from China's frosty northeast exhibited these stable, non-genetic adaptations – positioning Lamarckism as a potent, if partial, force in evolution's playbook. 'We demonstrate that environmentally induced epigenetic variation contributes to the inheritance of an acquired characteristic,' the team said, in a paper published in the peer-reviewed life sciences journal on May 22.
Associated Press
23-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
$8.5 Bn Epigenetics Markets, 2021-2024 & 2025-2029 - Increasing Investment in Biomedical Research, Trends Towards Precision Medicine, Growing Interest in Liquid Biopsy
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2025-- The 'Epigenetics Market' report has been added to offering. The global market for epigenetics research tools and reagents, IVDs and therapeutics is expected to grow from $4.8 billion in 2024 to $8.5 billion by the end of 2029, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% from 2024 through 2029. This report comprehensively analyzes the global market for epigenetics products, research tools and reagents, epigenetic biomarker-based in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and epigenetics-targeted therapeutics. It offers both quantitative and qualitative insights to help readers formulate growth strategies, evaluate the market landscape, assess their competitive positions and make informed business decisions regarding epigenetics products and services. The scope of epigenetics-targeted therapeutics includes DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors and zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitors. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or activity that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself. The global market for epigenetics research tools and reagents by study method was estimated at $1.8 billion in 2023. This market should reach $2.2 billion by the end of 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% through the forecast period. The demand for new research tools remains constant as scientists strive to advance understanding and pursue groundbreaking discoveries. The mounting clinical evidence supporting the relevance of epigenetics in various diseases has fueled a surge in epigenetic research, thereby increasing the demand for high-quality reagents and research tools. The trend is expected to continue over the forecast period, yielding market growth. Epigenetic therapeutics target and modulate epigenetic mechanisms to restore a more normal epigenomic configuration. The global market for epigenetic therapeutics market by drug class targeting DNMT, IDH, HDAC and EZH2 was estimated at $938.2 million in 2023. The market is expected to reach $1.9 billion by the end of 2029, growing at a CAGR of 11% over the forecast period. Emerging research demonstrates the potential of epigenetics-based therapeutics as a versatile and targeted treatment modality, offering a viable alternative to conventional chemotherapy. Scientific advances, the growing number of cancer patients and the unmet need in oncology are key growth factors of the epigenetic drugs market. The report includes: Company Profiles Key Attributes: Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chapter 2 Market Overview Chapter 3 Market Dynamics Chapter 4 Emerging Technologies and Developments Chapter 5 Market Segmentation Analysis Chapter 6 Competitive Intelligence Chapter 7 Sustainability in the Epigenetics Market: An ESG Perspective Chapter 8 Appendix For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 KEYWORD: INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY GENETICS HEALTH SOURCE: Research and Markets Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/23/2025 12:16 PM/DISC: 05/23/2025 12:16 PM
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New study makes stunning revelation about unexpected factor causing people to age faster: 'Similar to the effect of smoking and drinking'
If rising global temperatures have you feeling worn down, you aren't alone. A new study published in Science Advances and reported on by NPR found that extreme heat can speed up biological aging in a way that researchers say is "similar to the effect of smoking and drinking." That's the warning from Eunyoung Choi, a gerontologist at the University of Southern California and the lead author of the study. Researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 3,600 U.S. adults over age 56 and compared their genetic markers to past weather data for their home regions. They looked for signs of "epigenetic aging," a process that changes how our genes behave and is linked to an earlier onset of health conditions such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. They found that people who lived in areas with prolonged heat — such as Phoenix, where the heat index topped 90 degrees for more than half the year — appeared biologically 14 months older than people living in cooler regions. And that was after considering other factors such as income, education, exercise, and smoking, showing that heat exposure alone has an effect on how fast our bodies age. Scientists have known that heat can negatively affect our health in many ways, from heart issues to increased hospital visits and deaths during heat waves. But in the long term, premature aging also strains families and health systems. "It's just a tremendous strain … that increases your medication budget [and] really can have tremendous impacts," said gerontologist Deborah Carr of Boston University, who was not involved in the study. As global temperatures rise, fueled by our use of dirty energy sources such as oil and gas, extreme heat days are expected to increase across the U.S. by 20 to 30 days annually by the middle of the century. And that's happening at the same time America's population is aging, a concerning overlap since older adults are more vulnerable to heat-related complications. Prolonged exposure to heat makes "you sort of accelerate your way towards an old heart, and an old vulnerable heart," Tom Clanton, a physiologist and heat expert at the University of Florida's College of Health and Human Performance, explained. Researchers say this helps explain the connection between heat and illness. It also points to the need for personalized assessments of heat exposure, especially in homes and communities without reliable cooling. The next step for researchers is to better understand how individual environments — such as overheated homes or neighborhoods with less green space — contribute to heat exposure and health risks. That information could help shape future solutions, from city planning to home cooling upgrades. To protect your household from extreme heat while saving money on electric bills, consider climate-smart upgrades such as installing a heat pump (which also cools your space) or taking steps to weatherize your home. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
