epigenetic

(adjective)

the study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence

Related Terms

Examples of epigenetic in the following topics:

  • Epigenetic Alterations in Cancer

    • Cancer epigenetics is the study of epigenetic modifications to the genome of cancer cells that do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence.
    • Epigenetic alterations are as important as genetic mutations in a cell's transformation to cancer.
    • Increasingly, scientists are understanding how these epigenetic changes are altered in cancer.
    • In cancer cells, silencing genes through epigenetic mechanisms is a common occurrence.
    • Describe the role played by epigenetic alterations to gene expression in the development of cancer

  • Epigenetic Control: Regulating Access to Genes within the Chromosome

    • Studies have shown that over time different epigenetic changes can occur to the DNA of identical twins.
    • This type of gene regulation is called epigenetic regulation.
    • Epigenetics means "above genetics."
    • Discuss how eukaryotic gene regulation occurs at the epigenetic level and the various epigenetic changes that can be made to DNA

  • Altered Gene Expression in Cancer

    • This can be the result of gene mutation or changes in gene regulation (epigenetic, transcription, post-transcription, translation, or post-translation).
    • Changes in epigenetic regulation, transcription, RNA stability, protein translation, and post-translational control can be detected in cancer.
    • Therefore, changes in histone acetylation (epigenetic modification that leads to gene silencing), activation of transcription factors by phosphorylation, increased RNA stability, increased translational control, and protein modification can all be detected at some point in various cancer cells.

  • Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic Gene Expression

    • Regulation may occur when the DNA is uncoiled and loosened from nucleosomes to bind transcription factors (epigenetics), when the RNA is transcribed (transcriptional level), when the RNA is processed and exported to the cytoplasm after it is transcribed (post-transcriptional level), when the RNA is translated into protein (translational level), or after the protein has been made (post-translational level).

  • The Process and Purpose of Gene Expression Regulation

    • In this section, you will learn about the various methods of gene regulation and the mechanisms used to control gene expression, such as: epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational controls in eukaryotic gene expression, and transcriptional control in prokaryotic gene expression.

  • Regulating Protein Activity and Longevity

    • These changes can alter protein function, epigenetic accessibility, transcription, mRNA stability, or translation; all resulting in changes in expression of various genes.

  • Cell Signaling and Gene Expression

    • Regulation may occur when the DNA is uncoiled and loosened from nucleosomes to bind transcription factors (epigenetic level); when the RNA is transcribed (transcriptional level); when the RNA is processed and exported to the cytoplasm after it is transcribed (post-transcriptional level); when the RNA is translated into protein (translational level); or after the protein has been made (post-translational level).

  • Misconceptions of Evolution

    • Despite this abandonment, interest in Lamarckism has continued as studies in the field of epigenetics have highlighted the possible inheritance of behavioral traits acquired by the previous generation.