Epigenetics

What is Proportionate Heritability?

when a phenotype is partly explained by genes and partly by environmental factors

How do environmental factors influence phenotype?

they modify the performance of proteins, not the level of gene expression itself

What are epigenetic modifications?

modifications that affect how genes are turned on or off without changing the DNA sequence

What is translation?

mRNA instructs the ribosomes how to build the specific protein that the DNA coded for

What is transcription?

reading and copying a gene sequence from a DNA molecule

How do Epigenetics work?

molecules increase or decrease the amount of transcription of a particular gene, which alters the amount of protein that is produced

What is DNA methylation?

methyl groups attach to certain nucleotides and generally silence them

What is DNA demethylation?

removal of methyl groups from a DNA sequence that leads to a gene being expressed

What is Histone Modification?

When HMT joins methyl groups and modifies how tightly DNA is being wrapped around it. If it is tighter it is more difficult for genes to be transcribed and expresses. If less tightly packed the genes are easier to transcribe and express