What is the Origin of Epigenetic Code?

The term "epigenetics" was coined by Conrad Waddington in the 1940s, combining the Greek prefix epi, meaning "over," "upon," or "in addition to," with "genetics." It describes the functional modifications to the genome that do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence. The field has since expanded to show that this code is highly plastic.

What is the Mechanism of Epigenetic Code?

The code operates through chemical modifications to DNA, primarily DNA methylation, and modifications to the histone proteins around which DNA is wrapped, known as histone modification. These marks alter chromatin structure, thereby influencing the accessibility of genes to the transcriptional machinery. This regulatory process is profoundly influenced by diet, stress, and hormonal signaling, linking external factors to internal gene expression.

Epigenetic Code

Meaning

The layer of heritable information, distinct from the underlying DNA sequence, that controls gene expression by regulating which genes are turned “on” or “off” in specific cells. It represents the crucial interface between the fixed genetic blueprint and the dynamic environmental and lifestyle influences. This code is what allows a single genome to produce diverse cell types.