How diet and environment shape our traits
Chromatin and metabolic regulation of plasticity in a predatory nematode
This research explores how what we eat and our surroundings can change our bodies and health over time, using a small worm to understand these processes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127672 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our environment and diet can significantly influence our health, sometimes leading to conditions like diabetes. This project aims to uncover the fundamental ways these external factors affect our biology, a process called developmental plasticity. We believe that specific changes to our genetic material, called histone modifications, act as messengers between our diet and our physical traits. By studying a special type of worm that shows extreme changes based on its diet, we hope to identify these crucial communication pathways. Understanding these connections is vital for learning how different diets contribute to diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: While this foundational research does not involve direct patient participation, future studies building on these discoveries may seek individuals with diet-related conditions like adult-onset diabetes.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical interventions or direct treatment options would not directly benefit from this basic science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help us better understand how diet and environmental factors contribute to diseases like adult-onset diabetes, potentially leading to new ways to prevent or manage these conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this lab and others suggests that changes to genetic material play a key role in how diet influences our traits, providing a strong foundation for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Werner, Michael S — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Werner, Michael S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.