Epigenetics: molecular mechanisms and implications for disease.
Epigenetics is rising to prominence in biology as a mechanism by which environmental factors have intermediate-term effects on gene expression without changing the underlying genetic sequence. This can occur through the selective methylation of DNA bases and modification of histones. There are wide-ranging implications for the gene-environment debate and epigenetic mechanisms are causing a reevaluation of many traditional concepts such as heritability. The reversible nature of epigenetics also provides plausible treatment or prevention prospects for diseases previously thought hard-coded into the genome. Here, we consider how growing knowledge of epigenetics is altering our understanding of biology and medicine, and its implications for future research.
Handel
Adam E
AE
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Ebers
George C
GC
Ramagopalan
Sreeram V
SV
D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004194:Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
D006657:Histones