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Related Concept Videos

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...
Genetic Variation01:25

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Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
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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...
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Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

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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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Epigenetic variation: origin and transgenerational inheritance.

Claude Becker1, Detlef Weigel

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|September 4, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epigenetic variation in plants, influenced by the environment, is more significant than genetic diversity. Understanding epigenetic changes is key to their role in evolution and natural selection.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Epigenetic variation in plant populations is increasingly recognized as substantial, often exceeding genetic diversity.
  • Environmental factors significantly influence epigenetic modifications.
  • Epigenetic differences are not entirely independent of an organism's ancestry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of natural epigenetic variants in plants.
  • To explore how epigenetic changes influence genome activity and natural variation.
  • To delineate the role of epigenetic modifications in plant evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic-wide analysis of epigenetic patterns.
  • Comparative studies across diverse plant species (model and non-model).
  • Review of existing literature on epigenetic variation and its drivers.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic variation is a significant source of natural variation in plants.
  • Environmental stimuli can modulate genome activity through epigenetic phenomena.
  • Epigenetic changes can be subject to natural selection, impacting genetic diversity.

Conclusions:

  • Characterizing natural epigenetic variants is crucial for understanding their evolutionary significance.
  • Epigenetic modifications play a dynamic role in plant adaptation and evolution.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the emergence and heritability of epigenetic variants.