- "In biology, epigenetics is the study of stable changes in cell function (known as marks) that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence."
The study of changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence, including DNA methylation and histone modification.
DNA methylation: The process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, affecting gene expression without altering the DNA sequence.
Histone modification: Modifications to the proteins, called histones, that DNA is coiled around. These modifications affect gene expression, and can be passed down through generations.
Chromatin remodeling: The manipulation of chromatin structure to open or close regions of DNA, thereby regulating gene expression.
Epigenetic inheritance: The transmission of epigenetic changes across generations.
Non-coding RNAs: Regulatory RNAs that have been implicated in epigenetic regulation.
Environmental influences on epigenetics: The way in which aspects of the environment, such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins, can affect epigenetic marks and influence gene expression.
Epigenetic diseases: Diseases resulting from alterations in the epigenetic landscape of the cell, including cancer, developmental disorders, and neurological disorders.
Epigenomics: The study of the epigenetic modifications occurring throughout the genome of an organism.
Epigenetics and Aging: The relationship between epigenetic alterations and aging.
Tools for epigenetic research: Techniques for studying epigenetics, including sequencing, ChIP assays, CRISPR/Cas9, and bioinformatics tools for analyzing epigenetic data.
DNA methylation: Involves the addition of a methyl group to the DNA molecule, typically at cytosine residues.
Histone modifications: Involve the addition or removal of chemical groups to the histone proteins that help package DNA into chromosomes.
Non-coding RNA regulation: Involves the production of non-coding RNA molecules that can interfere with gene expression by binding to messenger RNA molecules or DNA directly.
- "The Greek prefix epi- (ἐπι- 'over, outside of, around') in epigenetics implies features that are 'on top of' or 'in addition to' the traditional genetic basis for inheritance."
- "Epigenetics most often involves changes that affect the regulation of gene expression, and that persist through cellular division."
- "Such effects on cellular and physiological phenotypic traits may result from external or environmental factors, or be part of normal development."
- "Examples of mechanisms that produce such changes are DNA methylation and histone modification."
- "Each of which alters how genes are expressed without altering the underlying DNA sequence."
- "Non-coding RNA sequences have shown to play a key role in the regulation of gene expression."
- "Gene expression can be controlled through the action of repressor proteins that attach to silencer regions of the DNA."
- "These epigenetic changes may last through cell divisions for the duration of the cell's life."
- "They may also last for multiple generations, even though they do not involve changes in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism."
- "One example of an epigenetic change in eukaryotic biology is the process of cellular differentiation."
- "During morphogenesis, totipotent stem cells become the various pluripotent cell lines of the embryo."
- "By activating some genes while inhibiting the expression of others."
- "Muscle cells, neurons, epithelium, endothelium of blood vessels, etc."
- "It can also lead to diseases such as cancer."
- "Such effects on cellular and physiological phenotypic traits may result from... or be part of normal development."
- "Epigenetics is the study of stable changes in cell function... that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence."
- "Gene expression can be controlled through the action of repressor proteins that attach to silencer regions of the DNA."
- "Epigenetics most often involves changes that affect the regulation of gene expression, and that persist through cellular division."
- "One example of an epigenetic change in eukaryotic biology is the process of cellular differentiation."