Courses

We tend to think that "good" genes make us thin and healthy, while "bad" genes make us fat and sick. But what if we could turn our good genes on and our bad genes off and improve our overall health by making the right dietary and lifestyle choices? The science of epigenetics suggests we can do just that. In this course, we will provide an introduction to epigenetics, the study of how lifestyle factors can change gene activity without actually modifying the underlying DNA. With that basic foundation in place, students will discover how food is a powerful signal to our genes that can have a positive impact on our metabolism, longevity, and mental well-being. We will explore basic concepts in nutrigenomics, the study of how gene expression can be modified by certain nutrients and bioactive food compounds. We will have live Q&A sessions with some of the world’s leading scientists in this field, such as Professor Randy Jirtle (University of Wisconsin) and Professor Michael Skinner (Washington State). Using the information covered in this course, students will be able to design a personalized nutrition action plan to positively impact their gene expression.