epigenetic modifications theory

Notes

• changes in gene expression arise in the absence of changes in the DNA sequence
• histone acetylation, DNA methylation, & DNA transcription factor interactions constitute epigenetic mechanisms
• exposure to various environmental factors (diet, stress, carcinogens) impact epigenetic mechanisms
• differences in identical twins that increase with age would support this theory

More general terms

• theory

Additional terms

• epigenetic
• epigenetic disease
• epigenetic transcriptional regulation