Thursday, March 2, 2017

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Salon 3

---

Details

B4 - Neuro-Epigenetics and Brain Development; the Molecular Mechanisms and Epigenetic Factors Involved in FASD Pathobiology Mogjan Rastegar This presentation will highlight some of the new findings on the epigenetic mechanisms contributing to FASD pathobiology and their potential reversibility. Epigenetics determine cellular identity and morphology of individual cells in the body through mechanisms that are not directly dictated by genomic DNA, a process that is altered by alcohol exposure during development. Unlike genetic mutations that are stable, there are chemical compounds and possible treatments with specific drugs that are capable of altering different epigenetic modifications, and thus they can have potential therapeutic targets. Knowledge of the reversible mechanisms may have important applications for novel therapeutic strategies, and the results of this research are expected to provide significant insight for such future FASD therapeutic strategies. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the harmful effects of alcohol on the developing brain cells through disruption of main epigenetic mechanisms 2. Understand the global and gene-specific effects of alcohol in the developing brain cells 3. Consider the potential for therapeutic use of this work