Epigenetics has often been discussed here. And it is clearly of relevance and interest re thyroid disorders. But it can be ever so difficult to really appreciate what is going on. We see static images which lead us to think of the state rather than the process.
When seen a film rather than a single photo, the dynamic nature becomes so much easier to appreciate.
The stripey question is also interesting. I'm trying to imagine the thyroid gland itself displaying stripes. And the implications of that.
Anyway, it is just plain interesting. And it features a pussycat. 🐈🐈⬛
Why Women Are Stripey?
8,511,382 views 4 Jun 2014
Epigenetics means women have different active x-chromosomes in different cells.
Courtesy of Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: wehi.tv
When a female embryo is four days old it consists of just 100 cells. At this point the x-chromosome from Mom and the one from Dad are both active. But in order for proper development to occur, one of the x chromosomes must be switched off.
Through a tiny molecular battle within each cell, one of the x-chromosomes wins and remains active while the loser is deactivated.
This is done by wrapping the DNA tighter around proteins, modifying histone tails, and DNA methylation - molecular markers to indicate this DNA should not be read.
What's surprising is that it's pretty random which x chromosome wins - sometimes it's Mom's and sometimes it's Dad's. So when a female is just 100 cells big, her cells have a mix of active x-chromosomes, some from Mom and some from Dad.
Why don't people with under active thryroid have thyroid removed.
TESTOSTERONE AND AUTO-IMMUNE CONDITIONS.....
Protecting against thyroid cancer
