Explain how epigenetics affects gene expression A Lists the

Explain how epigenetics affects gene expression. A) Lists the epigenetic mechanisms that can make a gene more likely to be expressed and the epigenetic mechanisms that would make it less likely to be expressed. B) How is epigenetics related to inheritance and the environment?

Solution

Epigenetic modifications, or “tags,” like DNA methylation and histone modification, alter chromatin structure and DNA accessibility; thereby controlling patterns of gene expression.

Epigenetics is related to inheritance and the environment as the structure and configuration of chromatin is controlled by families of enzymes, some catalyzing the dynamic addition and removal of chemical ligands and some directly altering or displacing the basic structural units. The activities of many of these enzymes are sensitive to environmental and metabolic agents and can thereby serve as sensors through which environmental agents can alter gene expression.