Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants

Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants

The human genome is over 99.9% identical between individuals, yet genetic differences exist at millions of bases. The human genome contains approximately 3 million variant positions per individual, many of which are heterozygous, contributing to genetic diversity and individual traits. Genetic variations include single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions, deletions, and copy number variations (CNVs).SNPs, the most common variation, involve single-base changes in DNA. These can be...

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview

Genetic polymorphism in drug metabolism is crucial to the inter-individual variability observed in drug responses. Drug metabolism primarily involves the chemical modification of drugs and other xenobiotics to enhance their elimination by increasing their polarity. Two main classes of enzymes mediate this biotransformation process: Phase I enzymes, primarily cytochrome P450s, catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions, while other enzymes, such as esterases, mediate hydrolysis, and Phase II...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

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

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

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

Epigenetic Regulation

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...

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview

Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics examine how genetic factors influence an individual's response to drugs. While pharmacogenetics focuses on the impact of specific genetic variants on drug effects, pharmacogenomics takes a broader approach, studying how genetic variation across populations contributes to differences in drug responses. These fields aim to explain why individuals may experience varying levels of efficacy or adverse reactions to the same medication.Variability in drug...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Developmental patterning of adipose tissue by abd-A and Abd-B homeotic genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

Genetics·2026

Same author

Developmental patterning of adipose tissue by <i>abd-A</i> and <i>Abd-B</i> homeotic genes in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Insights into ribosomal DNA dominance and magnification through characterization of isogenic deletion alleles.

Genetics·2024

Same author

Live analysis of position-effect variegation in <i>Drosophila</i> reveals different modes of action for HP1a and Su(var)3-9.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022

Same author

Under the magnifying glass: The ups and downs of rDNA copy number.

Seminars in cell & developmental biology·2022

Same author

Monitoring of switches in heterochromatin-induced silencing shows incomplete establishment and developmental instabilities.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2019

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Published on: January 2, 2009

Genetics: polymorphisms, epigenetics, and something in between.

Keith A Maggert¹

¹Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.

Genetics Research International

|May 9, 2012

Summary

Epigenetic inheritance, occurring without DNA sequence changes, can be heritable across generations. However, the broad use of "epigenetic" risks conflating true non-sequence genetic information with simple gene regulation.

More Related Videos

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations

Published on: November 3, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Published on: January 2, 2009

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations

Published on: November 3, 2010

Area of Science:

Genetics
Evolutionary Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Epigenetic phenomena are heritable traits that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence.
Environmental stimuli can induce gene regulatory changes that may be passed to subsequent generations.
This raises expectations that individual experiences could impact future generations and evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically examine the definition and application of the term "epigenetic".
To differentiate genuine epigenetic inheritance from non-heritable gene regulation.
To address the implications of "sequence independence" in epigenetic inheritance.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of the term "epigenetic".
Review of existing literature on gene regulation and inheritance.
Exploration of mechanisms of induced polymorphisms at repeated DNA loci.

Main Results:

The broad application of "epigenetic" risks conflating distinct biological phenomena.
A more precise definition of epigenetic inheritance is needed to distinguish it from transient gene regulation.
Epigenetic inheritance may involve sequence-independent mechanisms, potentially leading to genome evolution.

Conclusions:

A more reserved and precise definition of "epigenetic" is advocated.
Distinguishing true epigenetic inheritance from other forms of gene regulation is crucial.
Further investigation into sequence-independent inheritance and its evolutionary consequences is warranted.