What is epigenetics?
Q: What is epigenetics?
A: Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity which are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence. It is the study of gene expression, or how genes bring about their phenotypic effects.
Q: How long do epigenetic changes last?
A: Epigenetic changes may stay for the rest of a cell's life, and can even last for many generations of cells through cell divisions.
Q: Is there a change in the underlying DNA sequence when epigenetics occurs?
A: No, there is no change in the underlying DNA sequence of an organism when epigenetics occurs. Instead, non-hereditary factors cause genes to behave differently without changing their genetic makeup.
Q: What mechanisms does epigenetics use to work?
A: Epigenetics works by mechanisms such as DNA methylation.
Q: Do epigenetic factors continue into adulthood?
A: Yes, epigenetic factors may last into adulthood.
Q: How do genes express themselves differently due to epigenetics? A: Genes express themselves differently due to non-hereditary factors that cause them to behave differently without changing their genetic makeup.
Q: Does every organism have its own unique set of epigenetic processes?
A: Yes, every organism has its own unique set of epigenetic processes that determine how its genes will be expressed over time and across generations.
