Cells function differently because they express differentgenes.

The proper control of gene expression is critical for proper development.

DNA packaging fluctuates…Some of the tightly packaging of DNA is irreversible.

So development in animals is one way.

Inverse relationship between smoking and weight: more smoking : less weight

Effect of smoking on fetal development and how that can affect adults

Adults exposed to smoke as fetuses have higher risk of obesity and heart disease

What is the connection?

Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Some Cancers all may have some origins during fetal development.

Adults metabolism may react to poor nutrition as fetuses…

Adaptation of Thriftiness

or

Catch Up Growth.

Adults metabolism may react to poor nutrition as fetuses…Adaptation of Thriftiness or Catch Up Growth.

Study of babies born during Dutch famine of 1944-45…

Adults metabolism may react to poor nutrition as fetuses…Adaptation of Thriftiness or Catch Up Growth.

Study of babies born during Dutch famine of 1944-45…

20 years later found that these babies had higher rates of obesity.

Adults metabolism may react to poor nutrition as fetuses…Adaptation of Thriftiness or Catch Up Growth.

Study of babies born during Dutch famine of 1944-45…

20 years later found that these babies had higher rates of obesity.

Precise mechanism is not known

What about smoking?

17,000 births studied and checked at age 16 and 33.

Fetuses exposed to smoking had increased rate of obesity.

What about smoking?

17,000 births studied and checked at age 16 and 33.

Fetuses exposed to smoking had increased rate of obesity and more smoking meant more obesity.

What about smoking?

17,000 births studied and checked at age 16 and 33.

Fetuses exposed to smoking had increased rate of obesity and more smoking meant more obesity.

For Mom’s who abstained during pregnancy, no effect on fetus or as adult.

What about smoking?

17,000 births studied and checked at age 16 and 33.

Fetuses exposed to smoking had increased rate of obesity and more smoking meant more obesity.

Smoking during first trimester had same effect as during whole pregnancy.

What about smoking?

For diabetes more than 10 cigarettes per day gave a 4 times greater risk of diabetes.

What about smoking?

Risk of high blood pressure also increases with increased exposure to fetus of smoking during pregnancy

Why?

Why?

Nicotine can inhibit hunger and increase energy expenditure.

This can lead to poor fetal nutrition.

Why?

Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels, and may limit blood flow to the fetus.

AAL 38.8

Mammalian circulation

Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict

Why?

CO in blood decreases delivery of O2 to fetus.

Why?

These are all indirect affects…

Nicotine can inhibit hunger and increase energy expenditure.

Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels, and may limit blood flow to the fetus.

CO in blood decreases delivery of O2 to fetus.

Why?

Nicotine and other toxins in smoke may directly affect hormones that direct fetal development.

Hormones are molecules produced in one cell and signal another.

Why?

Nicotine and other toxins in smoke may directly affect hormones that direct fetal development.

Including hormones that direct brain development.

So,

Smoking during pregnancy may have indirect and/or direct affects on fetal development, and these affects may manifest themselves in adults.

Correlation of weight (BMI) %

Biological siblings 34

Parents and children living together 26

Identical twins reared together 80

Fraternal twins reared together 43

Identical twins reared apart 72

Adopted children and parents 4

Unrelated children living together 1

Correlation of weight and relatedness

Nature and Nurture:

Are traits coded for by genes fixed while traits coded for by the environment are under our control?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ucMLFO6TsFM