Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity which are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence.^[1] It is the study of gene expression, the way genes bring about their phenotypic effects.^[2] An organism's cells are, genetically, nearly identical. There are, however, certain occurrences that can change how genes are expressed or suppressed.^[3]

These changes in gene activity may stay for the rest of the cell's life. They may last for many generations of cells, through cell divisions. However, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of the organism.^[4] Instead, non-hereditary factors cause the organism's genes to behave (express themselves) differently. Epigenetics works by mechanisms such as DNA methylation, where a gene expression may be suppressed. ^[5][6]

Epigenetic factors may last into adulthood.^[7]

1. ↑ By "DNA sequence" we mean the sequence of nucleotide base pairs in an exon, the part of a gene which makes the sequence of amino acids in the coded protein.
2. ↑ King R.C. Stansfield W.D. & Mulligan P.K. 2006. A dictionary of genetics, 7th ed. Oxford. p146
3. ↑ Moore, Lisa D.; Le, Thuc; Fan, Guoping (July 11, 2012). "DNA Methylation and Its Basic Function". Neuropsychopharmacology. 38 (1): 23–38. doi:10.1038/npp.2012.112. ISSN 1740-634X. PMC 3521964. PMID 22781841.
4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Bird was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
5. ↑ Carey, Nessa 2011. The epigenetics revolution: how modern biology is rewriting our understanding of genetics, disease and inheritance. London: Icon Books. ISBN 978-184831347-7
6. ↑ Law, Julie A. & Jacobsen S.E. 2012. Establishing, maintaining and modifying DNA methylation patterns in plants and animals. Nature Reviews in Genetics 11 (3) 204–220. [1]
7. ↑ "Self-control forecasts better psychosocial outcomes but faster epigenetic aging in low-SES youth". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112 (33): 10325–10330. 2015. doi:10.1073/pnas.1505063112. PMC 4547243. PMID 26170291. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |authors= ignored (help)