epigenetics
ep-ih-jeh-NET-iks
ˌɛpɪdʒɪˈnɛtɪksListen
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the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself, but are mediated by chemical modifications to DNA and the histone proteins around which DNA is wrapped; key epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone acetylation and methylation, and the action of non-coding RNAs; epigenetic marks influence whether genes are switched on or off, and can be influenced by environmental factors including diet, stress, and exposure to toxins; crucially, some epigenetic changes can be transmitted across generations, raising profound questions about the inheritance of acquired characteristics; epigenetics is central to understanding development, ageing, cancer, and the molecular basis of how early-life experiences leave lasting biological traces
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