Epigenetics is a system that turns our genes on and off. The process works by chemical tags, known as epigenetic marks, attaching to DNA and telling a cell to either use or ignore a particular gene.
The most common epigenetic mark is a methyl group. When these groups fasten to DNA through a process called methylation they block the attachment of proteins which normally turn the genes on. As a result, the gene is turned off.
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Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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Scientists discover how epigenetic information could be inherited
28 January 2013
New research reveals a potential way for how parents’ experiences could be passed to their offspring’s genes. The research has been published in the journal Science.New research reveals a potential way for how parents’ experiences could be passed to their offspring’s genes. The research has been published in the journal Science.