Hugo D. The question of how cannabis can affect gene and DNA expression is not new. In fact, we have long known that marijuana has epigenetic effects on the human body. What is new, however, is our understanding of how this epigenetic effect occurs.
Marijuana and gene expression
Could marijuana play a role in altering gene expression and potentially provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention? Let’s explore the subject more closely.
Epigenetics is the study of how changes in behavior, development, and disease are influenced by factors other than DNA. Epigenetic changes can be influenced by a variety of factors. Those are environmental and lifestyle choices. Examples include:
DNA methylation (in which a carbon atom is added to the cytosine base)
Histone modification (attaching other molecules to nucleic acids in the cell nucleus)
RNA interference (also known as gene silencing). That’s where RNA strands interfere with the production or function of proteins by binding to them.
Cannabis affects the ECS, which helps control things like appetite, mood, and immune response. Receptors are located throughout the body and interact with substances in the body called “endocannabinoids”. As well as compounds found in cannabis called phytocannabinoids.
Research has suggested that cannabis use may be associated with epigenetic changes. For example, a 2016 study (published in the journal Epigenetics) researched the effects of chronic cannabis use on DNA methylation patterns. That was found in blood samples from a group of male participants. There is a study about chronic cannabis use and its association with altered DNA methylation patterns in genes, related to immune function. It suggests that cannabis use may have an impact on the immune system via epigenetic mechanisms.
Another study is published in the journal Scientific Reports in 2019. It investigated the effects of cannabis use on DNA methylation patterns in sperm samples from a group of male participants.It could potentially have implications for offspring health.
These studies suggest that cannabis use may be associated with epigenetic changes. It’s unclear whether these changes are necessarily positive or negative in terms of overall health outcomes. More research is needed, in order to fully understand the potential implications of cannabis use on epigenetics.
These studies suggest that cannabis use may be associated with epigenetic changes. It’s unclear whether these changes are necessarily positive or negative in terms of overall health outcomes. More research is needed, in order to fully understand the potential implications of cannabis use on epigenetics.
Nevertheless, the potential for cannabis to impact epigenetics does suggest that it may hold promise as a therapeutic intervention for certain health conditions.
For example, a 2018 review (that is published in the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine) suggests that cannabis may hold promise as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are affected due to its potential ability to modulate epigenetic changes related to these conditions.
Conclusion
To sum up all above, the exact relationship between Cannabis and Epigenetics is not yet fully understood. It also opens up new possibilities for treating disease by adjusting gene expression rather than changing the underlying DNA sequence.
In this article, we discussed how epigenetics could potentially play a role in gene expression in cannabis use. For those who have decided to do their own personal research, we recommend visite site. There you will be able to buy a quality product. However, the potential for cannabis to affect epigenetics suggests that it may be a promising therapeutic agent for certain health conditions.
