The Role of DNA Methylation in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)
Project by Polygence alum Tanisi
Project's result
The paper concluded that DNA methylation disrupts insulin signaling and glucose metabolism across the pancreas, liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle, that these changes are shaped by diet, stress, and early-life exposures but are often reversible, and that emerging therapies (metformin, hydralazine, curcumin, nutritional interventions) show promise for targeting methylation in T2D, while also highlighting that causality, tissue-specificity, and universal biomarkers remain unresolved, with longitudinal and personalized-medicine studies proposed as the next steps.
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Summary
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global health concern, yet much of the public and even student researchers overlook a key contributor to its development: epigenetics. This review examines how DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence, influences the onset and progression of T2D. Specifically, it explores how methylation patterns affect genes involved in blood sugar regulation, contributing to insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. By drawing on current literature, this paper reviews evidence linking altered methylation changes to disease risk and progression, while making the underlying molecular concepts accessible to readers new to epigenetics. Beyond summarizing existing findings, this review identifies gaps in current research and outlines directions for future study, with the broader goal of informing strategies for early detection and prevention of Type 2 diabetes.
Cigdem
Polygence mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Subjects
Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Expertise
Drug discovery, molecular pharmacology, metabolism
Tanisi
Student
I'm a Transition Year student at Sutton Park School in Dublin with a long-standing interest in medicine and human biology. I became interested in this project because DNA methylation offered a way to look beyond genetics and understand how disease risk develops at a molecular level, something I found especially compelling in the context of Type 2 diabetes, given how common and preventable it often is. This ties into a broader curiosity I have about how modern life itself shapes disease: how factors like diet, urbanization, and lifestyle change over time have influenced the rise and progression of conditions like T2D, and how the body adapts, or fails to adapt, to those shifts. I
Graduation Year
2029
Project review
“My experience with Polygence exceeded expectations from start to finish. The team was consistently cooperative and supportive throughout the process, and I was paired with an amazing mentor whose guidance made all the difference in shaping my project. On top of that, the platform itself is easy to navigate, making the whole experience smooth and enjoyable to work with.”
About my mentor
“Cigdem was an outstanding mentor, insightful and consistently helpful throughout the project. She guided me in learning the topic, drafting, and editing, and kept the process structured, always clear on what needed to get done and how to adjust along the way. I really appreciated all her support with both the research and the editing, and I'd highly recommend her to any other student.”
Check out their profile