Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Education news and issues in the Ozarks.

How to Keep Illness Away: Consider Epigenetics

Dr. Paul Durham

 On average, each person is walking around with 10 gene mutations that predisposes them to certain diseases. You can thank your family tree for those. Recently, Dr. Paul Durham, director of the Center for Biomedical and Life Sciences in the Jordan Valley Innovation Center and professor of biology for Missouri State University, has begun researching epigenetics.

This is the study of gene expression that doesn't involve mutation of DNA. Instead, environment can greatly influence which genes are turned on or off during someone's lifetime.

"The environment can really impact you in either a positive way or a negative way," Durham explained. "It really depends on your predisposition and whether you have the ability to buffer that bad environment."

Nicki received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Missouri State in marketing, in 2002 and 2004 respectively. After gaining experience in writing, marketing, special event planning, fundraising and public relations, she returned to the university to work in the office of strategic communication. There she tells the university’s story by sharing the stories of individuals at Missouri State.
Related Content