Epigenetics: Difference between revisions

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'''Epigenetics''' refers to changes to a [[gene]]'s activity, expression, and/or regulation that do not involve changes to the [[DNA]] sequence.  This concept is important because it implies that lifestyle or environmental factors may influence whether certain genes with harmful potential express or not.  Thus, possessing a gene associated with a disease does not always mean that a person will show symptoms of that disease.
'''Epigenetics''' is the study of how a person's behavior and environment can cause changes that affect the way their genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change a person's DNA sequence, but they can change how a person's body responds to, or does not respond to, a DNA sequence.<ref name=CDC /> The discovery that lifestyle choices and/or environment can affect whether certain genes "express" is of great importance in the health care, suggesting that some diseases and conditions can be staved off by dent of lifestyle choices and/or environmental factors.


It is possible for epigenetic changes to pass from one [[generation]] to the next.
== Notes ==
<references>
 
<ref name=CDC>
[https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/epigenetics.htm What is Epigenetics?] at the U.S. Center for Disease Control
</ref>
 
</references>

Revision as of 09:35, 19 September 2023

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Epigenetics is the study of how a person's behavior and environment can cause changes that affect the way their genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change a person's DNA sequence, but they can change how a person's body responds to, or does not respond to, a DNA sequence.[1] The discovery that lifestyle choices and/or environment can affect whether certain genes "express" is of great importance in the health care, suggesting that some diseases and conditions can be staved off by dent of lifestyle choices and/or environmental factors.

Notes

  1. ↑ What is Epigenetics? at the U.S. Center for Disease Control
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