Gene Expression and Its Discontents

The Social Production of Chronic Disease
2010
ISBN: 978-1-4899-8531-6
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 227 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 371 g

Gene Expression and its Discontents examines a class of probability models describing how epigenetic context affects gene expression and organismal development, using the asymptotic limit theorems of information theory in a highly formal manner. Taking classic results on spontaneous symmetry breaking abducted from statistical physics in groupoid, rather than group, circumstances, the work suggests that epigenetic information sources act as analogs to a tunable catalyst, directing development into different characteristic pathways according to the structure of external signals. The results have significant implications for epigenetic epidemiology, in particular for understanding how environmental stressors, in a large sense, can induce a broad spectrum of developmental disorders in humans. The authors then apply the perspective to a number of chronic diseases broadly associated with obesity, using data at different scales of observation.

Zielgruppe

Professional/practitioner

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wallace, Deborah

Wallace, Rodrick

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Epidemiologie, Medizinische Statistik
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Angewandte Informatik Bioinformatik
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Biochemie (nichtmedizinisch)
• Naturwissenschaften Biowissenschaften Angewandte Biologie Bioinformatik
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizin, Gesundheitswesen Public Health, Gesundheitsmanagement, Gesundheitsökonomie, Gesundheitspolitik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Models of development.- Groupoid symmetries.- Epigenetic catalysis.- Developmental disorders.- An interim perspective.- The obesity pandemic in the US.- Coronary heart disease in the US.- Cancer: a developmental perspective.- Autoimmune disorders.- Demoralization and obesity in Upper Manhattan.- Death at an early age: AIDS and related mortality in New York City.- Final thoughts.- Mathematical appendix.- References.