Epigenetics Can Save Lives
Epigenetics is the study of how behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way genes
Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence. This is great news because there is a lot we can do to optimize health. Epigenetics can save lives. Read on!
Nature vs. Nurture?
Epigenetics is the nurture component in which food, medications and environment can impact gene expression whereas nature is the genes your dog was born with.
Specifically, It involves adding a methyl, which js a small chemical molecule that attaches to different cellular components, including DNA and proteins, to help control how they function. Methyl can attach to a cytosine base of DNA or RNA to turn genes off, guiding normal development, cell differentiation, and disease prevention. Epigenetics can save livesd.
According to the Morris Animal Foundation, "Epigenetics affect how, when and whether genes are read by cells. By altering the physical structure of a DNA strand, for instance, genes can be turned on (expressed) or off (ignored by the cell).”
This means that the food they eat, the water they drink, the vaccines and medication they are given, opportunities to exercise and exposure to toxins can promote optimal health or not.
So, if you feed your dog a nutrient dense/protein-rich/species appropriate diet and do not feed kibble, vaccinate and medicate carefully, let them run around often and give your dog access to fresh air regularly you can literally turn on genes for optimal health. Epigenetics can save lives.
However, if you feed kibble, vaccinate and medicate often, limit exercise and mobility and use a bunch of toxic chemicals in your home, you turn on genes for sickness.
According to this 2026 study, diet plays a critical role in promoting wellness and longevity in both humans and canines.
To investigate the impact of diet on epigenetic ageing, purebred pugs were assigned to either one group fed a minimally processed, human‐grade food or a processed, extruded dry kibble.
The study concluded that dogs fed the minimally processed, human-grade diet exhibited a significant reduction in delta age, decreasing from 2.75 to 1.80 years over 6 months, indicating a trend of slowed epigenetic ageing. In contrast, dogs fed the extruded kibble diet exhibited no significant change in epigenetic ageing. Epigenetics can save lives.
Additionally, this 2026 study found that “nutrition influences gene regulation through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNAs, providing a molecular link between diet and chronic disease risk.”
While you can’t change your dogs’ genes, you can nurture them with proper diet, exercise and careful vaccination and medication to turn on genes for health. Epigenetics can save lives.
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