Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity and expression that do not alter the underlying genetic code but can be passed down to subsequent generations. It was first coined by Conrad Waddington in the 1940s and combines developmental biology and genetics. Epigenetic mechanisms like chromatin remodeling, methylation, and acetylation are major ways that gene expression is regulated and can determine cell types while also playing a role in cancer and potential reprogramming of cells.

2. WHAT IS EPIGENETICS?
the study of changes in gene
activity that do not cause
alterations to the genetic code, but
can still be passed on to next
generations

3. HISTORY
-New branch of scientific study
-Conrad Waddington first coined the name of
Epigenetics, combining the fields of
developmental Biology and Genetics
-The idea that the methylation of DNA could affect
gene expression, and that these patterns could
be heritable, was announced by two groups in
1975

4. TECHNIQUES / METHODS
Chromatin Remodeling - genes are
regulated
Methylation- addition of a methyl group
Acetylation- active transcription

5. ADVANTAGES
Major ways in which gene expression is
regulated
Determines the differences between the
cells in your body
Loss of the modifications often leads to
cancer
Reprogram cells to different functions

6. DISADVANTAGES
Hand in hand with stem cell
research
Controversial
Potentially dangerous side
effects

7. FUTURE
Striving to cure Epigenetic diseases such
as cancer
 The drug azacitidine treats leukemia
Human Genome Project
Doctors reexamining past epigenetic cures

8. EXAMPLES

9. EXAMPLES (CONT.)
identical twins have identical DNA. But , during
their lifetimes there are differences in their
phenotypes. One possible explanation could be
changes in the epigenetic factors that affect genes
and modify gene expression. Twins have some
epigenetic factors that are identical in early life,
but they acquire differences as time passes. It
could be that these differences modify genes in
such a way as to create the phenotype differences
that have been observed.