Home Department: undeclared
Mentor: Lauren O’Connell, Biology

“Review of Research on Epigenetics of Nicotine in the Neonate Brain”

Although it is understood that breastfeeding while smoking passes nicotine to babies, it is not yet understood how that process alters brain development and function. Nicotine affects the brain by binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which in turn upregulates the expression of nAChR subunits, which makes the user crave more of the drug. Ela’s literature review will focus on the effects of nicotine exposure and how that influences DNA methylation and genetics to regulate the expression of nAChR subunits, thus providing a better understanding of how nicotine alters the infant brain.