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EPIGENETICS OF WOLVERINE

Presented by:

Kai La Tsang: 400260992

Juhi K Olkh: 400254652

Adrian G Dinoiu: 400267178

Timothy Tran 400339397

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MOVIE SUMMARY

01

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Movie Summary

Abilities are controlled by revenge fueled by recounting emotional trauma
Abilities: strong claws, resistance to physical trauma, heightened senses, etc.
Environmental conditions manipulated
Tortured mutants are rescued at the cost of Wolverine’s memories

The classic thriller X-Men Origins: Wolverine starts off with the main character, Jimmy, also known as Wolverine or Logan, dealing with some sort of sickness at a very young age. Later in the scene, an intruder shoots and kills Jimmy’s father. Jimmy, now dealing with a tremendous amount of emotional trauma and seeking revenge, experiences for the first time his interesting epigenetic mutation. Claws start growing out of his fingers, which he uses to effortlessly kill the intruder. It is then revealed that the intruder was actually Jimmy’s and Victor’s father (2:26). It is this scene that reveals that Wolverine’s retractable claws are engaged via severe emotional distress which fuels a need for revenge. Wolverine isn’t strictly limited to this ability, as it is seen that he can survive what is ordinarily a lethal gunshot anywhere on his body. The first case of such power was seen at their supposed firing squad execution, where the two brothers were supposed to be killed for their mischief in the military. However both survived due to their powers (7:30). Due to their incredible abilities, they were recruited by Major William Stryker in Operation X-Men. However, Wolverine later moves to the Canadian Rockies after a disagreement with his brother, Victor, concerning the morality of their operations (16:15). Working as a lumberjack, he forms an intimate relationship with Kayla, who is later killed by Victor. (31:50) Fueled by further emotional trauma and revenge, Wolverine teams back up with General Stryker in order to kill Victor (37:15). Wolverine is taken to a remote island to be willingly weaponized. General Stryker reveals that his team has found the back rock, now termed Adamantium, which will be placed around Wolverine’s bones and claws to become indestructible. Because anesthesia doesn’t work on Wolverine, and considering that he is about to undergo an extremely painful procedure of Adamantium injection, one of the scientists urges Wolverine to recall his trauma (38:30). It is once again revealed that recalling traumatic memories fuels his need for revenge, and makes Wolverine able to withstand pain and activate his claws. The procedure was a success, and Wolverine is now even stronger than before. With the success of the operation, Wolverine overhears General Stryker ordering his memories to be erased so the procedure can be used for the ultimate mutant, X-11, and makes an escape to a nearby farm (43:42). A discussion with Stryker reveals that only a bullet made of Adamantium can affect Wolverine (56:32). Later, it’s shown that Victor and Stryker were working together the whole time, and Victor killed Wolverine’s girlfriend in order to take advantage of his need for revenge, causing him to willingly go to the island to be experimented on. Further discussions evolve with Stryker on the island revealing revenge is what activates both Victor’s and Wolverine’s abilities (1:13:50). We later see that Kayla is actually alive and working with Stryker . Her death was staged in order to get Wolverine emotionally scarred and get him to the island. They escape with other mutants, while Stryker sends the experimental X-11 mutant after them (1:24:36). Wolverine learns that X-11 was actually Wade, one of the former members of X-Men (1:26:40). Victor and Wolverine end up fighting X-11 as a team (1:29:37). Stryker then reveals that his intention is to use an Adamantium bullet to l erase his memories (1:31:50). Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens. As Wolverine reunites with Kayla after the fight, Stryker manages to shoot Wolverine multiple times, including once in the head. Kayla then bleeds out and dies due to her wounds from earlier. Rather than this being another source of emotional environmental trigger for wolverine, he wakes up and is unable to remember Kayla (1:34:38).

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EPIGENETICS

02

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Genes and Lasagna

Genes = Some online lasagna recipe?

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Enzymes and mutations

Enzymes are “helper” proteins

Enzymes are not perfect

Cellular mistakes that change DNA sequence are called mutations

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Alphabets and DNA

DNA = alphabet
DNA sequences = words
Genes = sentences of instruction

Converting genes into proteins and other molecules is gene expression

DNA

DNA Sequence

Genes

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Epigenetics

“Epi” translate to “in addition to” or “on top of”

Epigenetic changes are an on/off switch for genes

Epigenetics promotes or inhibits gene expression

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“Cheesy Spicy Lasagna”

Genes

Epigenetics

Transcription

Factors

Pleiotropy: One gene affects multiple traits

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Histones help organize DNA

DNA in one cells is as long as Captain America
Unorganized DNA = tangled headphone
Histones organize DNA by charge interaction

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Epigenetic histone modifications

Histone Acetyltransferases (HATs) add acetyl groups to histones

HATs create “loose” DNA

Histone Deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl groups

HDACs create “tight” DNA

DNA

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EPIGENETIC ORIGINS OF WOLVERINE

03

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Epigenetics Origin of Wolverine

Abilities first triggered during the killing of his father
Mutant powers revolve around gene WLVRN
Allows for 3 retractable claws

X-Men Origins: Wolverine / Wolverine's Bone Claws (Hugh Jackman). (2013). Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolverinejamesloganhowlett/10955507023.

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WLVRN Gene is Pleiotropic

Allows for control of more than one trait
This includes:

Rapid healing
Immunity to pathogens
Sense of animals
Retains age, health, and strength

Obtained from Hood (2009), 55:00-55:02

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Epigenetics Regulation

Can be activated and deactivated through histone acetylation
Under emotional distress:

Addition of acetyl group → activation of WLVRN gene

Neutral association allows for translation of WLVRN proteins

Fussell, S. (2016). Here's what Wolverine's cameo in 'X-Men: Apocalypse' might mean for future sequels. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/x-men-apocalypse-wolverine-cameo-explained-2016-5.

Hardawar, D. (2009). Wolverine Reshoots Are Go With Gavin Hood At The Helm Read More: https://www.slashfilm.com/626953/dave-chappelle-sparks-justified-outrage-with-new-comedy-special/?utm_campaign=clip. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.slashfilm.com/502092/wolverine-reshoots-are-go-with-gavin-hood-at-the-helm/.

Created with BioRender.com.

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Deactivation of Acetylation

When in relaxed state
HDACs removes acetyl group from lysine
Prevents wolverine’s supernatural abilities

Maggie. (n.d.). X-men Origins wolverine, logan and kayla. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://badinfluencespeaks.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55003818f88340168ea9d6eb6970c-popup.

Sandwell, I. (2016). Bye bye mutton chops! Hugh Jackman says goodbye to Wolverine once and for all We're not ready yet though... Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a805501/wolverine-hugh-jackman-shaves-his-mutton-chops-video/.

Created with BioRender.com.

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Epigenetic Writer/Eraser

WLVRN gene encodes both a writer and eraser
Writer - enzymes that introduce epigenetic modifications on a specific molecule
Eraser - enzymes that remove them from a specific molecule

Wolverine Claws. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://tenor.com/view/wolverine-claws-claw-out-claws-out-gif-20215020.

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Epigenetic Writer/Eraser

Writer = histone acetyltransferase
Activates when the Wolverine is experiencing emotional anguish, promotes WLVRN gene, gaining abilities

Eraser = histone deacetylases
Activates when the Wolverine is alleviated, silences WLVRN gene, suppressing abilities

Wolverine Claws. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://tenor.com/view/wolverine-claws-claw-out-claws-out-gif-20215020.

Wolverine Smile. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://tenor.com/view/hugh-jackman-smile-happy-satisfied-happiness-gif-15443270.

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Thank you for listening!