Epigenetics
Study of heritable modifications that influence gene expression without altering the sequence.
📖 Full definition
Epigenetics studies how the environment (diet, stress, chemical exposure) modifies gene expression via chemical marks (DNA methylation, histone modifications) without changing the DNA sequence. These marks can sometimes be transmitted over 1-2 generations. This is why identical twins end up with different phenotypes as they age.
💡 Concrete example
If your grandmother experienced severe famine during pregnancy, some epigenetic marks may influence your metabolism today — without your DNA having changed.
🔄 Synonyms
epigenetic regulation
🔗 See also
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