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Epigenetic Landscape

Meaning

The Epigenetic Landscape is a conceptual model, originally proposed by Conrad Waddington, that illustrates how an organism’s developmental trajectory and cell fate are influenced by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. It represents the collective state of chemical modifications to DNA and associated proteins, known as the epigenome, which dictates which genes are expressed and which are silenced. Hormones and lifestyle interventions act as powerful environmental cues that actively reshape this landscape, impacting longevity and health span.