Epigenetics and Pathology : Exploring Connections Between Genetic Mechanisms and Disease Expression

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters.

This important book explores recent research by experts in the field pertaining to the role played by genetic factors in human pathology. A range of perspectives creates a well-rounded picture, including:

• host-pathogen interactions
• causal relationships between genes and the environment
• the effects of environmental chemicals on gene expression
• DNA methylation

The book also covers the analysis and provides models for understanding the epigenetics-pathology connection.

This book is designed for use by senior undergraduate and graduate students from several disciplines such as general, molecular, cellular biology, genetics, genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. It will also serve as a reference book for existing researchers and new investigators entering this rather unexplored field.

Kasirajan Ayyanathan received his PhD degree from the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, one of the premier research institutions in India. Subsequently, at Temple University School of Medicine, USA, he conducted post-doctoral research on the signal transduction by purinergic receptors, a class of G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), in erythroleukemia cancer cells. Next, he was trained as a staff scientist at the Wistar Institute, USA for almost ten years and studied transcription regulation, chromatin, and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in cancer before becoming an Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Currently he is at the Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology as a Research Associate Professor at FAU. He is the recipient of Chern memorial award and Howard Temin career research award.

Dr. Ayyanathan is well trained in molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry with main focus on studying transcription factors and gene regulation. Dr. Ayyanathan has published several research articles in peer-reviewed articles.