Jump to content

epigenetics

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

[edit]
WOTD – 24 January 2006

Etymology

[edit]

Blend of epigenesis +‎ genetics; coined by C. H. Waddington in 1942.

Pronunciation

[edit]

Noun

[edit]

epigenetics (uncountable)

  1. (genetics) The study of the processes involved in the genetic development of an organism, especially the activation and deactivation of genes.
    • 2010 November 6, “Sins of the Fathers”, in New Scientist:
      Epigenetics deals with the regulation of genetic activity within a cell - which genes are switched on or off, and when it happens.
    • 2023, Robert M. Sapolsky, Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, New York: Penguin, →ISBN:
      The nuts and bolts of how this happens revolves around the massively trendy field of “epigenetics,” revealing how early life experience causes long-lasting changes in gene expression in particular brain regions.
  2. (genetics) The study of heritable changes caused by the activation and deactivation of genes without any change in DNA sequence.

Coordinate terms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

Translations

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=epigenetics&oldid=80134694"