Understanding that methylation is one of the most significant processes in humans may be your first step towards even better health—for yourself, your community, the marketplace, and the world.
Controls gene expression, detox, neurotransmitter production.
MTHFR variants, high homocysteine, synthetic folic acid buildup.
Happening billions of times a day
Helping regulate gene expression
Supporting the liver
Aiding in producing neurotransmitters,
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A historical timeline of key events and leading voices in human DNA methylation
5mC first reported in bacteria (1925), then discovered in mammalian DNA by Rollin Hotchkiss in 1948 (calf thymus).1,2
Waddington coins the term “epigenetics” (1942) and introduces the epigenetic landscape concept (1957).3
Bacterial restriction-modification systems (1960s) and Arthur Riggs proposes DNA methylation as a stable gene silencing mechanism (1975).4
Andrew Feinberg & Bert Vogelstein discover global DNA hypomethylation in human cancer.5
Discovery of genomic imprinting and cloning of key DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B).6
Persistent methylation changes from prenatal famine documented. Dr. Amy Yasko develops detailed methylation cycle protocols and SNP analysis.7,8
Steve Horvath introduces the first DNA methylation-based epigenetic clock for biological age prediction.9
Ben Lynch and Gary Brecka popularize methylation testing and optimization. Methyl Health publishes definition for neurotransmissive support and files formally. Manel Esteller and Peter Laird advance cancer methylome research. Infinium MethylationEPIC array released.10,11
[1] Johnson & Coghill (1925) – Early report of 5-methylcytosine in bacteria.
[2] Hotchkiss RD (1948) – Identification of 5-methylcytosine in mammalian DNA.
[3] Waddington CH (1942, 1957) – Coined epigenetics and epigenetic landscape.
[4] Riggs AD (1975) – Model linking DNA methylation to gene silencing.
[5] Feinberg AP & Vogelstein B (1983) – Hypomethylation in human cancer.
[6] Various studies (1990s) – Genomic imprinting and DNMT cloning.
[7] Dutch Hunger Winter cohort studies (2000s onward).
[8] Yasko A – Pathways to Recovery and nutrigenomics protocols.
[9] Horvath S (2013) – DNA methylation age of human tissues.
[10] Lynch B – Dirty Genes and methylation education.
[11] Esteller M, Laird PW, and Illumina MethylationEPIC documentation.