The changes suggest that like the monkeys, young people breathing in orange skies may be more susceptible to respiratory illness and brain development issues later in life.
Smoke fills the sky as the Alisal fire burns in the distance on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Santa Gaviota Coast, California. SAN JOSE, Calif. — Take a seat, chin to the sky. Insert the swab, rotate slowly and switch nostrils — we know the drill. Only this time, it’s not a COVID-19 test. And the nose is attached to a monkey.
For years, scientists have associated the particulate matter from smoke with respiratory health complications such as COPD and asthma — particularly in children. “We’re talking about a genetic component that basically tells the cells how to act and what to do,” Aguilera explains. “Epigenetics studies how the environment and external exposures change our bodies and how our bodies work.”
Some of the impacted regions deal with genes typically involved in immune response and neural development, meaning that smoke exposure could impact breathing and cognition in the long run. In fact, the researchers already showed that the monkeys born after the wildfires had reduced lung capacity and impaired lung function.
The researchers said they expect to see similar epigenetic effects in people. Ji is teaming up with Rebecca Schmidt at UC Davis to repeat the study in pregnant mothers and young children, and they’re in the process of recruiting participants now.