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Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying DNA...
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Pattern-based Search of Epigenomic Data Using GeNemo
06:38

Pattern-based Search of Epigenomic Data Using GeNemo

Published on: October 8, 2017

The epigenome and top-down causation.

P C W Davies1

  • 1The Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science , Arizona State University , Tempe, AZ , USA.

Interface Focus
|March 16, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epigenetic factors influence gene expression, acting as a dynamic, self-organizing system rather than a stored program. This research proposes linking epigenetic information to chromatin dynamics for deeper understanding.

Keywords:
causalityemergenceepigenetics

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Systems Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Gene expression is influenced by epigenetic factors beyond DNA sequence.
  • Epigenetic changes are reversible and heritable, forming a global, systemic entity.
  • Unlike the genome, the epigenome lacks a stored 'program' in the information-theoretic sense.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the self-organizing nature of epigenomic control.
  • To investigate the interplay of genetic and epigenetic causation.
  • To propose a framework for attributing causal efficacy to biological information.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of complex systems theory concepts (feedback loops, emergent phenomena).
  • Examination of chromatin structure, organization, and dynamics.
  • Proposal for implementing downward causation via chromatin dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Epigenomic control is largely an emergent, self-organizing phenomenon.
  • Epigenetics demonstrates the intermingling of bottom-up genetic and top-down epigenetic causation.
  • A novel approach is proposed to couple information directly to chromatin dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenomic regulation is a complex, emergent process, not a pre-defined program.
  • Attributing causal efficacy to biological information can be achieved by integrating it with chromatin dynamics.
  • This integration opens new avenues in dynamical systems theory for studying self-organization and complexity.