Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The study of heritable changes in gene expression that are caused by factors such as DNA methylation rather than by a change in the sequence of base pairs in DNA itself.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun genetics The study of the processes involved in the genetic development of an organism, especially the activation and deactivation of genes.
  • noun genetics The study of heritable changes caused by the activation and deactivation of genes without any change in DNA sequence.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in the phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

    PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in the phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

    Gaea Times (by Simple Thoughts) Breaking News and incisive views 24/7 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in the phenotype (appearance) or

    THE MEDICAL NEWS 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression and phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in DNA sequence.

    RedOrbit News - Technology 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in the phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

    PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in the phenotype (appearance) or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

    EurekAlert! - Breaking News 2010

  • The term epigenetics refers to changes in phenotype or gene expression caused by chemical changes to the DNA, rather than changes in the DNA sequence itself.

    ScreenTalk 2009

  • The example given, "epigenetics" is a good one -- the "backgrounder" [sic] from Johns Hopkins is much clearer.

    May 2007 Maxine 2007

  • I'm more interested in epigenetics, but down the road, maybe junk DNA will become more relevant for my biological forays.

    A Dubious "Opportunity" for IDers 2007

  • But there are mechanisms that are called epigenetics.

    NPR Topics: News 2011

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