What is epigenetics?
Epigenetics studies chemical marks and related processes that influence gene use without changing the underlying DNA sequence.
How it works and what the evidence shows
Core idea Chemical groups on DNA and changes to proteins that package it can alter access to genes. Patterns vary across cell types and development. Evidence and research Researchers compare marks such as methylation with expression measurements. Some marks persist through cell division, but the conditions and duration vary.
Uses and limitations
Why it matters The field helps explain why cells with the same genome perform different functions and how environments can interact with cellular regulation. Common misunderstandings Claims that a behavior is reliably inherited epigenetically across generations need strong evidence. Epigenetic marks are not mutations and do not erase genetic effects.