Human health and epigenetics are strongly linked, warranting a clear understanding of the relationship, said former Health Secretary and Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research V.M. Katoch.
The former Health Secretary was talking during the A.V. Rama Rao Technology Award lecture at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology when he discussed links between various diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s, with epigenetics.
“Epigenetic changes happen in a regular and natural fashion but there is influence of several factors including age, environment/lifestyle, and food habits that develops the disease state,” he said. Epigenetics is analysis of consequences of the expression of an organism’s genes.
The lecture was organised on the occasion of National Technology Day in India, which marks the Pokhran nuclear test on May 11, 1998. The test catapulted India into a select club of countries.
IICT Director S. Chandrasekhar and the institute’s former director Dr. A.V. Rama Rao, who sponsors the annual A.V. Rama Rao Technology and Young Scientist awards, was present at the occasion.