What do you think?
Rate this book
Introducing Graphic Guides
Introducing Epigenetics: A Graphic Guide
Epigenetics is the most exciting field in biology today, developing our understanding of how and why we inherit certain traits, develop diseases and age, and evolve as a species.
This non-fiction comic book introduces us to genetics, cell biology and the fascinating science of epigenetics, which is rapidly filling in the gaps in our knowledge, allowing us to make huge advances in medicine. We’ll look at what identical twins can teach us about the epigenetic effects of our environment and experiences, why certain genes are 'switched on' or off at various stages of embryonic development, and how scientists have reversed the specialization of cells to clone frogs from a single gut cell.
In Introducing Epigenetics, Cath Ennis and Oliver Pugh pull apart the double helix, examining how the epigenetic building blocks and messengers that interpret and edit our genes help to make us, well, us.
This non-fiction comic book introduces us to genetics, cell biology and the fascinating science of epigenetics, which is rapidly filling in the gaps in our knowledge, allowing us to make huge advances in medicine. We’ll look at what identical twins can teach us about the epigenetic effects of our environment and experiences, why certain genes are 'switched on' or off at various stages of embryonic development, and how scientists have reversed the specialization of cells to clone frogs from a single gut cell.
In Introducing Epigenetics, Cath Ennis and Oliver Pugh pull apart the double helix, examining how the epigenetic building blocks and messengers that interpret and edit our genes help to make us, well, us.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2017
1,215 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Cath Ennis
5Ìýbooks13ÌýfollowersCath Ennis grew up in York and trained in genetics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (BSc) and the Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories at the University of Glasgow (PhD). She moved to Vancouver to conduct postdoctoral research on human genome evolution, and now works as a freelance science and medical writer/editor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 21, 2017
This little book packs a lot of information into a tiny little package. Because it is educational in nature and a rather dense topic, it's not going to be a book you can lose yourself into and fly through quickly, particularly if you don't have a strong biology background. That being said, it does have a nice flow, and demonstrates concepts with the use of visual graphic aides (this is not a graphic novel, but more an illustrated guide). The illustrations are simple and are intended help to demonstrate the concept described, but are also sometimes just funny puns.
A surprise inclusion that I really enjoyed was the great historical reference section discussing the foundation experiments in the field. I plan on using this in combination with the reading recommendations in the back of the book as a starting point to find out more about specific discoveries/individuals I'm interested in. This is another plus in my book. Most scientific field specific books I've read that are intended for the general public are too general and sometimes quite light in the actual scientific principle department. They also tend to be poorly sourced, so it's difficult to find quality material related to specific topics of interest within that same general field.
There is a small glossary in the back of the novel for terms that are less common and might need further clarification. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge as an "arm chair" scientist, this is a great starting point. If it's been a while since you've had a science class, or this is a new topic, I'd recommend taking this a few chapters at a time to let the concepts really sink in, and not to anticipate you'll fly through this dense little book at the same rate you would a work of fiction.
Since I'm an actively working scientist, with a broad knowledge of biology, I might not be a good gauge to the difficulty level. For me, this was a pretty easy read, and the things I enjoyed the most related to individual historical discoveries I knew little about.
See the full review on my youtube channel (link in bio).
A surprise inclusion that I really enjoyed was the great historical reference section discussing the foundation experiments in the field. I plan on using this in combination with the reading recommendations in the back of the book as a starting point to find out more about specific discoveries/individuals I'm interested in. This is another plus in my book. Most scientific field specific books I've read that are intended for the general public are too general and sometimes quite light in the actual scientific principle department. They also tend to be poorly sourced, so it's difficult to find quality material related to specific topics of interest within that same general field.
There is a small glossary in the back of the novel for terms that are less common and might need further clarification. If you are interested in expanding your knowledge as an "arm chair" scientist, this is a great starting point. If it's been a while since you've had a science class, or this is a new topic, I'd recommend taking this a few chapters at a time to let the concepts really sink in, and not to anticipate you'll fly through this dense little book at the same rate you would a work of fiction.
Since I'm an actively working scientist, with a broad knowledge of biology, I might not be a good gauge to the difficulty level. For me, this was a pretty easy read, and the things I enjoyed the most related to individual historical discoveries I knew little about.
See the full review on my youtube channel (link in bio).
December 1, 2018
I have been interested in epigenetics for a couple of years now, and was surprised to see a graphic guide called 'Introducing Epigenetics', so I thought I’d give it a try. I found it pretty dry. The first 20% was spent defining terms, and the graphics weren’t particularly helpful. Even pretty much a layman, I got a lot more out of the might be so-called difficult books like Jablonka, Lamb, and Zeligowski’s excellent ‘Evolution in Four Dimensions�, or Nessa Carey’s ‘The Epigenetic Revolution�. Strange right?
February 28, 2017
It feels strange to rate a reference guide. It was helpful. So there.
August 2, 2020
How I read this: borrowed through Bookmate subscription
This was kind of hard to read because while the author was trying to make the material accessible, I guess there's just so much you can do when it's actually still complicated science. It was still interesting though. And also then there's the wacky illustrations which I feel like I'll remember longer than anything else in this book. I've never really seen such odd illustrations anywhere!
| |
This was kind of hard to read because while the author was trying to make the material accessible, I guess there's just so much you can do when it's actually still complicated science. It was still interesting though. And also then there's the wacky illustrations which I feel like I'll remember longer than anything else in this book. I've never really seen such odd illustrations anywhere!
| |
August 16, 2021
Quick read, fun and informative book.
February 25, 2020
This book always makes me happy! 6/5 stars <3
It's so nerdy. I love it!
It's so nerdy. I love it!
January 17, 2021
Introducing Epigenetics is an attempt to make a tough topic somewhat easy. And, the author succeeds partially.
Through odd and tacky humor/graphics, the author establishes that it is not all about our genes and DNA. Many characteristics and tendencies are because of what happens through, or to, the other non-chromosomal DNA items in cells' nucleus. Gene expression, for instance, is largely controlled by epigenetic forces and material. For comprehensive learning of our diseases and biological characteristics, epigenetic understanding is as critical as genetic cataloging and research.
Beyond the establishment of the central vision, the author fails to make more inroads despite a barrage of information. Or perhaps because of it.
The subject matter is immensely difficult. The author does not help herself by not providing an over-arching structure. For example, the author could have started with a few simple sections on the classical genetic theory to define epigenetics and what is so revolutionarily different about it. Broad classifications and sub-classifications could have aided the book in carrying the readers while unpeeling the layers of complexity and linking back to the overall goals.
The graphics/pictures are goofy. The humor attempted is exceptionally odd. Quite often, they feel like insider jokes amid the field's experts. Their hit rate is low. Still, they lighten up the wordy paragraphs around every single time, including when they are utterly ineligible to the regular readers or when the jokes are mind-numbingly trivial.
Through odd and tacky humor/graphics, the author establishes that it is not all about our genes and DNA. Many characteristics and tendencies are because of what happens through, or to, the other non-chromosomal DNA items in cells' nucleus. Gene expression, for instance, is largely controlled by epigenetic forces and material. For comprehensive learning of our diseases and biological characteristics, epigenetic understanding is as critical as genetic cataloging and research.
Beyond the establishment of the central vision, the author fails to make more inroads despite a barrage of information. Or perhaps because of it.
The subject matter is immensely difficult. The author does not help herself by not providing an over-arching structure. For example, the author could have started with a few simple sections on the classical genetic theory to define epigenetics and what is so revolutionarily different about it. Broad classifications and sub-classifications could have aided the book in carrying the readers while unpeeling the layers of complexity and linking back to the overall goals.
The graphics/pictures are goofy. The humor attempted is exceptionally odd. Quite often, they feel like insider jokes amid the field's experts. Their hit rate is low. Still, they lighten up the wordy paragraphs around every single time, including when they are utterly ineligible to the regular readers or when the jokes are mind-numbingly trivial.
October 11, 2022
Read this with Irene LOL
April 20, 2024
Prima voor een 1ste jaars bioinformaticus, maar deze 4de jaars bioinformaticus had graag wat meer diepte gezien.
August 30, 2021
Yes I finished this book pretty fast. It has a lot of graphics so I was able to read it in a day. As someone who didn’t know a lot about epigenetics. I have to say, I’m impressed. Science is just very mind blowing to me. So while reading this, I couldn’t put it down. Interesting to see how nature/nurture can impact our health. From being a tiny baby growing in a belly to growing old. This makes me want to treat my physical & mental health even better.
July 23, 2017
Epigenetics is a very exciting yet difficult field. The author does a great job keeping the topic rigorous despite the format. Some concepts, particularly the editing bits, were enhanced by the images.
Some of the gene regulation pieces were challenging and she does refer throughout the book so you will need to pay attention or follow her hyperlinks.
I thought the topics she chose made coherent sense and the book had a good flow to it. This is a useful way to dissect a hard topic esp if you're new to it! Good job !
Some of the gene regulation pieces were challenging and she does refer throughout the book so you will need to pay attention or follow her hyperlinks.
I thought the topics she chose made coherent sense and the book had a good flow to it. This is a useful way to dissect a hard topic esp if you're new to it! Good job !
August 8, 2019
As someone that knew relatively about the topic, this was a good introduction to epigenetics. It is, however, very dense, does not provide much context, and while about 20% of the pictures are useful the other 80% are mostly silly distractions. That said, it starts from all of the basic definitions, is comprehensive in covering the biology, evolutionary aspects, diseases, etc. And seems very balances in eschewing the hype that often surrounds this topic. But it did not seem like an easy introduction so I'm not sure exactly who it was for. But am glad I read it.
September 16, 2018
Excellent book to get a heads up in the realm of epigenetics.
September 7, 2023
4.25, Would have been higher if I knew more about basic biology because there was tons that went over my head�
October 10, 2020
Mah, se uno vuole studiare e dunque capire fino in fondo la scienza non può avvalersi di questi libretti che neanche danno la cosiddetta infarinata ma possono solo riuscire a confondere le idee di chi non ha mai studiato niente del genere, in quanto presentano il tutto in un modo un po� troppo caotico, poco schematico e anche senza una certa pretesa di capire fino in fondo o meglio di far capire fino in fondo come stanno le cose di un argomento complesso come tutti quelli che coinvolgono la genetica. Non penso che verrà mai tradotto, sembra un progetto un po� altisonante e anche ben sperante nella capacità altrui di riuscire a farsi un’idea di quello che sia questa difficilissima materia leggendo questo....coso. A dir la verità non ho capito come mai vengano esposti con una precisione da università alcuni argomenti mentre altri invece vengono solo accennati solo che purtroppo non funziona così lo studio. Sì, si tratta di studio, leggere soltanto non serve proprio niente. All’inizio ho provato solo a leggerlo come se fosse un libro, senza prendere appunti ma non riesco a concentrarmi, gli argomenti scivolano via e invece prima di andare avanti bisogna capire bene e ricordarsi ogni concetto, proprio come succedeva all’università . All’università avevo studiato biologia, fisiologia e mutagenesi e forse solo per questo posso capirci qualcosa altrimenti senza una base non credo che sarei riuscita a capirci niente anzi avrei probabilmente smesso di leggere, cosa che non mi succede quasi mai anzi mai. Il problema è che Wikipedia può aiutare chiunque abbia voglia di scoprire questo argomento in modo molto più dettagliato e soprattutto in italiano. Non che l’inglese sia mai stato un problema ma sicuramente non ha facilitato. Wikipedia riesce invece sempre a chiarire qualsiasi questione in modo molto preciso, sarà forse che con i suoi riferimenti a qualsiasi nozione viene citata si riesce a inquadrare sempre quello che non si capisce e a colmare qualsiasi lacuna. Purtroppo qui le lacune vengono solo create e per quanto per quasi oltre metà del libro mi sia cimentata anche in una piuttosto puntigliosa raccolta di appunti a un certo punto ho mollato, altrimenti non avrei finito più e comunque prendere appunti senza studiarli non ha senso e non serve a niente. La genetica, epi- o no, è un argomento talmente tanto complesso che, ripeto, prima di andare avanti bisogna capire e imparare qualsiasi concetto. Niente da fare, la genetica non è certo una materia che può essere spiegata con un libretto del genere.
Per non parlare poi del microscopico glossario in fondo. Non pensavo che esistesse un carattere talmente tanto piccolo� da matti proprio. Anche volendo capirci qualcosa di più ti passa la voglia se non hai una lente di ingrandimento! Penso che quando i libri cominciano a diminuire così tanto la grandezza del font significa solo che vogliono vendere senza spendere più di tanto.
Un’altra nota di demerito per tutte le immagini aggiunte di continuo e senza utilità , molte con una sottospecie di fumetti e tutte farcite di una ilarità del tutto fuori luogo. Già sono in bianco e nero e non si capisce niente poi sono anche spiritose in un modo insopportabile. Era meglio evitare questi fumetti e scrivere un po� più decentemente.
Affascinante spaventosa genetica 🧬
Il problema è che io posso anche prendere tutti i più minuziosi appunti di quello che leggo su questo libro ma resta comunque il fatto che se gli appunti non li vado a rileggere e soprattutto studiare non mi rimane proprio niente e se devo capire anche solo un concetto di questi qui esposti alla rinfusa preferirei andare su Wikipedia invece che rileggere i miei appunti che comunque delineano sempre gravi carenze da parte mia ma soprattutto da parte del libro. Un argomento così tanto complesso fatto di dettagli non può essere letto come un romanzo ma va studiato e se devo studiare epigenetica a questo punto preferisco farlo su un libro vero e nel caso non esistesse (anche se mi sembra strano) meglio avvalersi di Wikipedia.
Come tutti gli studi scientifici trovo davvero però insopportabile leggere frasi come queste: “come con altri complessi problemi scientifici il modo più facile per studiare l’eredità epigenetica è quello di fare esperimenti su animali di laboratorio�. Ecco fatto. Fanculo, detto come se fosse normale che gli animali muoiono per noi. Cazzo, almeno un po� di rispetto, invece mi mettono pure fumetti di topi contenti di prendere parte agli esperimenti che dicono cazzate senza fine!
Molto interessante e anche questa frase: � gli esperimenti sugli animali hanno dimostrato un’effettiva discendenza epigenetica. Gli studi sulla popolazione umana hanno proposto che un simile fenomeno possa esistere anche per la nostra specie�
La parte finale del libro è meno scientifica ma più interessante e più accessibile anche se denota continuamente che il campo è noto da poco e non si sa quasi niente. Da circa pagina 80 le pagine sono un po� più digeribili perché il libro non cerca più di essere innanzitutto un libro vero e proprio e poi non cerca più di insegnarti la genetica in quattro e quattr’otto ma si prefigge invece di dirci quello che questa branca della genetica sta affrontando, tanto non si può pretendere di far capire la genetica a tutti con queste quattro pagine striminzite e rimpicciolite� la verità è che non sanno niente di preciso neanche loro e dunque viene spontaneo chiedersi non è forse è meglio aspettare?
È stata una lettura inutile e questo libro lo sconsiglio vivamente a tutti quelli che non hanno mai fatto biologia, per capire la prima parte bisogna avere qualcosa nel proprio bagaglio culturale mentre per affrontare la seconda parte basta capire che il DNA in alcune sue parti viene protetto con dei gruppi che ne impediscono la trascrizione e dunque viene bloccata la produzione di proteine che possono portare allo sviluppo di funzioni e conseguenze. L’epigenetica vuole studiare come il DNA possa essere più o meno attivato dall’ambiente che minaccia quei gruppi che ha attaccati.
Interessante la parte in cui si dice che tutto ciò di epigenetico non coinvolge l’evoluzione in quanto gli effetti epigenetici si perdono già nella seconda generazione�
Per concludere voglio ribadire che è ignobile e totalmente inaccettabile per me la questione dei topi e di tutti gli animali da laboratorio che sono stati sfruttati per capire questi concetti� e come il libro presenta la questione, con una leggerezza scandalosa. Quanti topi sono morti per capire concetti che non si sa neanche se sono veri? Ne vale davvero la pena? C’era bisogno di avvalersi della genetica per capire che il fumo fa male? Per capire che in gravidanza bisogna darsi una regolata? Era davvero necessario far morire tutti quei topi? Ce la vogliamo finire di considerarci superiori e migliori e degni del sacrificio di tutti gli altri animali? Poi bisogna tener presente che se si utilizzano i topi c’� anche un motivo preciso ovvero il fatto che il loro DNA è molto simile al nostro! E dunque? Come la mettiamo? Quando ci fa comodo li consideriamo simili ma simili solo fino a un certo punto, il punto in cui non c’� etica per loro. Per chi non capisse il senso di queste parole voglio chiarire che alla fine gli esperimenti sugli umani si fanno e se per gli umani si parla sempre e a volte troppo di etica perchè per i topi no? Penso che sarebbe ora di smetterla di considerare tutto e tutti al servizio dell’umanità � È veramente patetico, è da un pezzo che si sa che le sigarette fanno male e invece di bloccare la produzione del tabacco continuate a uccidere i topi per dimostrare quanto fanno male? Fanculo deficienti, ops scusate, volevo dire assassini.
Verso la fine del libro dopo che improvvisamente si è fatto di nuovo piuttosto complicato, ritornando ad essere troppo scientifico descrivendo manovre di cura in maniera troppo dettagliata, c'è una bella postilla seguita da un mi dispiace (cazzo, i libri che ho studiato io non si sono mai dispiaciuti di dirmi delle cose, maleducati):
“Non ci sono delle prove che possono dimostrare che alcune sostanze possono mettere a tacere geni dannosi ereditati e non c'è nessuna certezza per quanto riguarda gli effetti delle sostanze sui geni dannosi ereditati�.
Come a dire, questo libro è inutile. In effetti l’avevo capito.
August 30, 2019
A very insightful, and detailed, introduction to the science of epigenetics. Although some of the concepts and phraseology might be challenging at times for the average layperson, there are some great analogies and accompanying graphics (with a healthy dose of humor to drive the point home) throughout the book to help clarify some of the more tricky concepts.
I was extremely disappointed, however, to find a lack of consistency in scientific objectivity. Since the bulk of the book had been spent in emphasizing the relative newness of epigenetics and its many not-yet-understood attributes, I was shocked at the sudden and complete disavowal of holistic therapies, such as homeopathy and acupuncture, as "pseudosciences" that do not function epigenetically. As the author puts it, "there’s no credible evidence to support these claims." I was a bit put out that a brand-new and shakily uncertain science could make such a broad and certain claim (especially without any studies cited to prove this). Actually, I found the opposite to be true- an initial search of "epigenetic acupuncture" revealed 406 results on pubmed, including the following:
" our data imply that acupuncture may act through epigenetic changes and subsequent action on their targets, such as miRNA-339/Sirt2/NF-κB/FOXO1 axis." ["Acupuncture May Exert Its Therapeutic Effect through MicroRNA-339/Sirt2/NFκB/FOXO1 Axis"- Jia-You Wang, Hui Li, [...], and Shu-Feng Zhou]
A Single Bout of Electroacupuncture Remodels Epigenetic and Transcriptional Changes in Adipose Tissue in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 30 ;8(1):1878. Epub 2018 Jan 30. PMID:Ìý29382850
"Genome-wide regulation of electro-acupunctureÌýon the neuralÌýStat5-loss-induced obese mice" Shu-Ping Fu, Hao Hong, Sheng-Feng Lu, Chen-Jun Hu, Hou-Xi Xu, Qian Li, Mei-Ling Yu, Chen Ou, Jian-Zhong Meng, Tian-Lin Wang, Lothar Hennighausen, Bing-Mei Zhu PLoS One.Ìý2017;Ìý12(8): e0181948.ÌýPublished online 2017 Aug 14.Ìýdoi: PMCID:Ìý PMC5555711 [Found that] "EA reversed altered gene expressions in the hypothalamus and Epi-WAT, especially in the hypothalamus inÌýStat5NKO obese mice."
And integrative medicine (IM) including homeopathy:
"Our work describes how IM may function as an epigenetic modulator for equilibrating the body to peak efficiency and wellness."..."we believe that these approaches collectively share a common basic mechanistic paradigm, that is, modification of the epigenetic landscape. This is supported by the increasing number of studies suggesting epigenetics as the converging mechanism of all IM products and practices.Ìý" " For example, the homeopathic drugÌýLycopodium clavatumhas been observed to cause cell death by induction of apoptotic gene expression in HeLa cells without any detectable cytotoxic effect on normal PBMCs, suggesting its possible use as a safe anticancer drug [138]. Another set of homeopathic drugs, Condurango and Hydrastis Canadensis, when administered to HeLa cells displayed a pattern of over 100 differentially expressed genes suggesting the power of ultra-diluted homeopathic medicines in reversing aberrant epigenetic cancer signatures [139]." Epigenetic Mechanisms of Integrative Medicine Riya R. Kanherkar, Susan E. Stair, [...], and Antonei B. Csoka Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017; 2017: 4365429. Published online 2017 Feb 21.Ìýdoi:Ìý PMCID:ÌýPMC5339524 PMID:Ìý28316635
Khuda-Bukhsh A. R., Saha S. K., Roy S. Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo.ÌýInternational Journal of High Dilution Research.Ìý2013;12(45):162â€�167.
Khuda-Bukhsh A. R., Sidkar S. Hypermethylation involved in DNA profiles of lung cancer specific tumour suppressor genes and epigenetic modification caused by an ultra-highly diluted homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, in vitro and in vivo.ÌýInternational Journal of High Dilution Research.Ìý2014;13(47):p. 99.Ìý
I'm sharing this because I think it is very important for people to realise that there is an enormous amount of scientific research proving the efficacy of holistic therapies. They work scientifically, and they are proven scientifically. To discredit them all as "pseudoscience" without attempting to prove such an allegation is both disingenuous and unscientific. I would love to see this book revised to include a few of the innumerable studies which show that, far from wishful thinking, holistic therapies absolutely do have scientifically-proven epigenetic effects on the body, and therefore a future role to play in epigenetic therapies.
I was extremely disappointed, however, to find a lack of consistency in scientific objectivity. Since the bulk of the book had been spent in emphasizing the relative newness of epigenetics and its many not-yet-understood attributes, I was shocked at the sudden and complete disavowal of holistic therapies, such as homeopathy and acupuncture, as "pseudosciences" that do not function epigenetically. As the author puts it, "there’s no credible evidence to support these claims." I was a bit put out that a brand-new and shakily uncertain science could make such a broad and certain claim (especially without any studies cited to prove this). Actually, I found the opposite to be true- an initial search of "epigenetic acupuncture" revealed 406 results on pubmed, including the following:
" our data imply that acupuncture may act through epigenetic changes and subsequent action on their targets, such as miRNA-339/Sirt2/NF-κB/FOXO1 axis." ["Acupuncture May Exert Its Therapeutic Effect through MicroRNA-339/Sirt2/NFκB/FOXO1 Axis"- Jia-You Wang, Hui Li, [...], and Shu-Feng Zhou]
A Single Bout of Electroacupuncture Remodels Epigenetic and Transcriptional Changes in Adipose Tissue in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 30 ;8(1):1878. Epub 2018 Jan 30. PMID:Ìý29382850
"Genome-wide regulation of electro-acupunctureÌýon the neuralÌýStat5-loss-induced obese mice" Shu-Ping Fu, Hao Hong, Sheng-Feng Lu, Chen-Jun Hu, Hou-Xi Xu, Qian Li, Mei-Ling Yu, Chen Ou, Jian-Zhong Meng, Tian-Lin Wang, Lothar Hennighausen, Bing-Mei Zhu PLoS One.Ìý2017;Ìý12(8): e0181948.ÌýPublished online 2017 Aug 14.Ìýdoi: PMCID:Ìý PMC5555711 [Found that] "EA reversed altered gene expressions in the hypothalamus and Epi-WAT, especially in the hypothalamus inÌýStat5NKO obese mice."
And integrative medicine (IM) including homeopathy:
"Our work describes how IM may function as an epigenetic modulator for equilibrating the body to peak efficiency and wellness."..."we believe that these approaches collectively share a common basic mechanistic paradigm, that is, modification of the epigenetic landscape. This is supported by the increasing number of studies suggesting epigenetics as the converging mechanism of all IM products and practices.Ìý" " For example, the homeopathic drugÌýLycopodium clavatumhas been observed to cause cell death by induction of apoptotic gene expression in HeLa cells without any detectable cytotoxic effect on normal PBMCs, suggesting its possible use as a safe anticancer drug [138]. Another set of homeopathic drugs, Condurango and Hydrastis Canadensis, when administered to HeLa cells displayed a pattern of over 100 differentially expressed genes suggesting the power of ultra-diluted homeopathic medicines in reversing aberrant epigenetic cancer signatures [139]." Epigenetic Mechanisms of Integrative Medicine Riya R. Kanherkar, Susan E. Stair, [...], and Antonei B. Csoka Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017; 2017: 4365429. Published online 2017 Feb 21.Ìýdoi:Ìý PMCID:ÌýPMC5339524 PMID:Ìý28316635
Khuda-Bukhsh A. R., Saha S. K., Roy S. Evidence in support of gene regulatory hypothesis: gene expression profiling manifests homeopathy effect as more than placebo.ÌýInternational Journal of High Dilution Research.Ìý2013;12(45):162â€�167.
Khuda-Bukhsh A. R., Sidkar S. Hypermethylation involved in DNA profiles of lung cancer specific tumour suppressor genes and epigenetic modification caused by an ultra-highly diluted homeopathic drug, Condurango 30C, in vitro and in vivo.ÌýInternational Journal of High Dilution Research.Ìý2014;13(47):p. 99.Ìý
I'm sharing this because I think it is very important for people to realise that there is an enormous amount of scientific research proving the efficacy of holistic therapies. They work scientifically, and they are proven scientifically. To discredit them all as "pseudoscience" without attempting to prove such an allegation is both disingenuous and unscientific. I would love to see this book revised to include a few of the innumerable studies which show that, far from wishful thinking, holistic therapies absolutely do have scientifically-proven epigenetic effects on the body, and therefore a future role to play in epigenetic therapies.
September 14, 2022
I’m old enough to remember when the human gene sequence was first being decoded, and there was a widespread belief that it was going to end genetic diseases in one fell swoop. It didn’t do that, and � in fact � seemed to result in whole new levels of confusion. It’s fascinating to me that now Epigenetics, a subject that grew out of that confusion, is also being seen as the ticket to ending disease. Epigenetics investigates what traits are expressed and why, given that a specific gene sequence has a vast array of potential for various traits to be (or not to be) expressed.
For those familiar with this series (the “A Graphic Guide� series,) this book is more difficult to digest than most titles, certainly than any of the several others that I’ve read. To be fair, the subject matter is more technical than most, leading to it being more jargon- and acronym-intensive. In addition, the subject isn’t cut up into as small of pieces as most of the books. This one has far fewer and longer chapters than the others that I’ve read.
That said, while it reads technically for the general reader, there are a few concepts (methylation, demethylation, and histone modification) that are frequently revisited throughout the book, and so one can get a basic grasp of those concepts. The book also explores some issues that are more readily understood by the lay reader, such as: nature v. nurture in gene expression, the role of twin studies, and how pseudo-scientific individuals and organizations have made fraudulent claims involving Epigenetics.
If you want to learn about the fundamentals of Epigenetics, you may want to look into this book -- but keep in mind that it’s not a smooth read.
For those familiar with this series (the “A Graphic Guide� series,) this book is more difficult to digest than most titles, certainly than any of the several others that I’ve read. To be fair, the subject matter is more technical than most, leading to it being more jargon- and acronym-intensive. In addition, the subject isn’t cut up into as small of pieces as most of the books. This one has far fewer and longer chapters than the others that I’ve read.
That said, while it reads technically for the general reader, there are a few concepts (methylation, demethylation, and histone modification) that are frequently revisited throughout the book, and so one can get a basic grasp of those concepts. The book also explores some issues that are more readily understood by the lay reader, such as: nature v. nurture in gene expression, the role of twin studies, and how pseudo-scientific individuals and organizations have made fraudulent claims involving Epigenetics.
If you want to learn about the fundamentals of Epigenetics, you may want to look into this book -- but keep in mind that it’s not a smooth read.
September 3, 2019
I picked up this book as a primer to the study of epigenetics. I chose it because a) it seemed to be presented at a novice/introductory level, and b) because of its recent publication date, which hopefully means it's information is up to date.
While I'm scientifically literate, chemistry is one of my weaker study areas - and genetics is really all about chemistry. So I found the book challenging, but not incomprehensible. I could understand the "hows", as explained, but my lack of robust chemical background left a bit wanting in the "whys" area. Still, I did learn a lot from the books coverage of the subject.
I didn't find he "illustrative" feature of the volume particularly useful. Most of the illustrations are fumetti style cartoons that attempt to add some levity to the presentation. I didn't find the humor to be especially clever and eventually just started jumping over the images unless they had something factual to contribute. Don't get me wrong - I really DO enjoy a dose of humor with my facts. This humor just seemed.... "superficial".
As I said, I did learn a lot from this book, but I feel like I need to research it more to really form up my understanding of the field's basics. So... my hunt continues.
While I'm scientifically literate, chemistry is one of my weaker study areas - and genetics is really all about chemistry. So I found the book challenging, but not incomprehensible. I could understand the "hows", as explained, but my lack of robust chemical background left a bit wanting in the "whys" area. Still, I did learn a lot from the books coverage of the subject.
I didn't find he "illustrative" feature of the volume particularly useful. Most of the illustrations are fumetti style cartoons that attempt to add some levity to the presentation. I didn't find the humor to be especially clever and eventually just started jumping over the images unless they had something factual to contribute. Don't get me wrong - I really DO enjoy a dose of humor with my facts. This humor just seemed.... "superficial".
As I said, I did learn a lot from this book, but I feel like I need to research it more to really form up my understanding of the field's basics. So... my hunt continues.
May 3, 2018
Basic Biology & Genetics Recommended
I read this book at the request of a friend who is curious about epigenetics and hoped the promised graphics would help her visualize and better understand the science. Her last exposure to biology was over 20 years ago, during freshman year at university.
The “graphics� in this book are nothing like graphics in most science-related books—and certainly not similar to presentations in science textbooks—and therefore are NOT AT ALL helpful in understanding epigenetics. The illustrations appear to have been included for color and/or comic commentary.
I would ONLY recommend this book to those who have had basic courses in biology and genetics. Again, it would be very helpful to have a basic understanding of genetics.
I read this book at the request of a friend who is curious about epigenetics and hoped the promised graphics would help her visualize and better understand the science. Her last exposure to biology was over 20 years ago, during freshman year at university.
The “graphics� in this book are nothing like graphics in most science-related books—and certainly not similar to presentations in science textbooks—and therefore are NOT AT ALL helpful in understanding epigenetics. The illustrations appear to have been included for color and/or comic commentary.
I would ONLY recommend this book to those who have had basic courses in biology and genetics. Again, it would be very helpful to have a basic understanding of genetics.
Shelved as 'didnt-finish'
September 8, 2020Dropped after 45%.
(No ratings here as I come to think it may not be the best practice to rate books that I didn't finish. It doesn't mean it's a 0-stars work.)
I have always been a fan of this Introducing(now renamed to "A Graphic Guide") series but this area, epigenetics, seems to be too dense to be given the graphic guide treatment, at least not to anyone without a college level biology background. The signature use of humorous illustration also falls flat as the visual pun just doesn't work as well in this scientific discipline as in humanities one.
If you happen to read this as an epub file, like from Overdrive, try to read this on your laptop as it's optimized for a big-screen format.
(No ratings here as I come to think it may not be the best practice to rate books that I didn't finish. It doesn't mean it's a 0-stars work.)
I have always been a fan of this Introducing(now renamed to "A Graphic Guide") series but this area, epigenetics, seems to be too dense to be given the graphic guide treatment, at least not to anyone without a college level biology background. The signature use of humorous illustration also falls flat as the visual pun just doesn't work as well in this scientific discipline as in humanities one.
If you happen to read this as an epub file, like from Overdrive, try to read this on your laptop as it's optimized for a big-screen format.
March 24, 2024
Una lectura fascinante acerca de un área del conocimiento que me interesa demasiado. Confieso que me sentÃa un tanto perdido al principio, aprecio la introducción a los conceptos básicos, pero poco a poco me fui acostumbrando al ritmo y estilo de la lectura. Es una buena guÃa para adentrarse en este mundo y es admirable la labor de simplificar algo tan complejo como la epigenética. Entiendo que la labor de una guÃa es orientar con base en los conceptos clave pero sà me quedé un tanto inconforme con ciertas explicaciones, ya será mi labor personal profundizar en más literatura cientÃfica. Las imágenes incluidas son un recurso muy efectivo para complementar las explicaciones y los memes que aparecen me encantaron JAJAJA (mi humor es muy “ñoñoâ€� y rancio).
December 18, 2017
This book was really informative! It's been many years since I took a genetics class and at that time, epigenetics was a relatively new field and not something that was taught in your average intro to genetics class, so it was really nice to have a book that clearly explained what epigenetics is - and why we should be excited about it!
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author, but my opinion on the book is genuine!
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author, but my opinion on the book is genuine!
July 28, 2017
I used this book for an extra-curricular research project involving epigenetics and cancer treatment; I couldn't have asked for more. All the background history and genetics was extremely useful to build a foundation of knowledge.
Concise but highly detailed information. The pictures really helped me visualize the more challenging aspects of the topic.
Concise but highly detailed information. The pictures really helped me visualize the more challenging aspects of the topic.
May 8, 2020
Heady but fascinating!
I found this intro to epigenetics to be interesting. The illustrations that accompany the text helps elucidate some rather complex science. And while the field is relatively new, I did not realize so much has already been done researching the epigenome. Not an easy book, but well worth the effort.
I found this intro to epigenetics to be interesting. The illustrations that accompany the text helps elucidate some rather complex science. And while the field is relatively new, I did not realize so much has already been done researching the epigenome. Not an easy book, but well worth the effort.
May 31, 2022
Although I find this fascinating I personally do not believe in Darwin’s theory. I do believe in adaptation over time for survival. However, it’s amazing that geneticists having discovered so much about proteins and their affects on DNA and mRNA. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. To think they’ve been studying genetics since the 1800’s. Really good read.
September 24, 2024
Interesting, but uneven. Most of the book is introducing terms and mechanisms of gene translation in detailed language, while the IMHO truly interesting part about current real life studies being quite short and just mentioning some proven effects. The graphic part is not really useful, either basic study book pictures with no parallels or cheap jokes in comic form. I was expecting more.
March 19, 2019
Just the facts
A good introduction to the field of epigenetics. Clearly written with sometimes amusing pics. If you wish to know what epigenetics is and isn't, this is a good place to start
A good introduction to the field of epigenetics. Clearly written with sometimes amusing pics. If you wish to know what epigenetics is and isn't, this is a good place to start
June 30, 2019
Great introduction
Great introduction into the field of epigenetics.
Certainly doesn’t answer many questions on the subject but the topic itself cannot answer the questions yet....science has to catch up!
Great introduction into the field of epigenetics.
Certainly doesn’t answer many questions on the subject but the topic itself cannot answer the questions yet....science has to catch up!
November 26, 2019
Wish I could say I comprehended the material. I can't say I did. My study of the subject is basically from high school biology in the 60s. Going to get a more foundational study and come back to this one again. 4 stars for a very good presentation in my layman opinion.
April 4, 2020
Introducido Epigenetics: A Graphic Guide (Introduction)
It’s a good book. Many graphics helps the reader to better understanding the concepts.
For readers with out medical or biology background is a challenging book
It’s a good book. Many graphics helps the reader to better understanding the concepts.
For readers with out medical or biology background is a challenging book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.