Epigenetic considerations in medicine
Walters, D.M.
North Carolina Medical Journal 74(6): 534-536
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2559 PMID: 24316785 Document Number: 668044
Epigenetic modifications are gene regulatory mechanisms that allow rapid adaptation to the environment. These mitotically stable and meiotically heritable changes are sensitive to environmental conditions especially during developmental periods, and they are essential to understanding how information in the DNA sequence is utilized. Recent research in this area has led to excitement and questions about medical applications of epigenetics.