10

Epigenetics

CONCEPT OUTLINE
  • Introduction
  • Heterochromatin and Histone Interactions
    • Telomeric silencing

       

  • Polycomb and Trithorax
  • CpG Islands
  • Genomic Imprinting
  • Epigenetic Effects and Inheritance
    • The epigenetic inheritance of X chromosomes

       

  • Prions
    • Prion diseases

       

  • Summary
  • References
INTRODUCTION

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype that is caused by mechanisms that do not involve changes in DNA sequence. In practice, epigenetics is the study of gene expression or phenotype changes. The Greek word ‘epi’ means over, above or outer and the word genetics means study of genes. The term ‘epigenome’ refers to the overall epigenetic state of a cell genome. ‘Epigenetic inheritance’ describes ...

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