Epigenetic change causes fruit fly babies to inherit diet-induced heart disease

(Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute) Scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have identified an epigenetic marker and two genes that caused heart failure in the children and grandchildren of fruit flies with high-fat-diet-induced heart dysfunction. Reversing the epigenetic modification or over-expressing the two genes protected subsequent generations from the negative heart effects of their parents' diet. The study was published in Nature Communications.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news