Epigenetics/epigenome (also known as epigenetic marks or signatures)
By
Cancer Council NSW
Epigenetics is the study of how gene expression can be regulated in a way that is long-lasting but reversible, without changing the actual DNA sequence. Genes can be switched on and off through the addition or removal of chemical marks, known as epigenetic marks or signatures, these changes can affect a person’s risk of disease and may be passed from parents to their children.
The epigenome is the total collection of chemical marks on DNA and chromosomes as the body develops. This collection of marks “tells” the gene what to do, where to do it, and when to do it.
Epigenetic biomarker: A measurable epigenetic change, such as altered DNA methylation, that can give information about cancer risk, disease development or how well treatment is working.