Epigenetics
후성유전학
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/speciesfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-speciesfyi="glossary" data-slug="epigenetics"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://speciesfyi.com/iframe/glossary/epigenetics/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://speciesfyi.com/glossary/epigenetics/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://speciesfyi.com/glossary/epigenetics/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/speciesfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<speciesfyi-glossary slug="epigenetics"></speciesfyi-glossary>Definition
The study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.
Detailed Explanation
Epigenetic marks — primarily DNA methylation and histone modification — can be influenced by diet, stress, and environmental toxins, and some marks are passed to offspring, allowing non-genetic inheritance of acquired states. Honeybee queens and workers are genetically identical but epigenetically distinct due to royal jelly diet. Epigenetic changes are increasingly recognized as contributors to cancer, aging, and adaptation to rapid environmental change.