Epigenetics, Epigenetics

Roloff, T.C., Nuber, U.A., 2005 Chromatin , epigenetics and stem cells. Eur J Cell Biol. 84, 123-135 Epigenetics (as in "epigenetic landscape") was coined by C. H. Waddington in 1942 as a portmanteau of the words genetics and epigenesis.

Epigenetic control is often associated with alternative covalent modifications of histones. The stability and heritability of states of larger chromosomal regions are often thought to involve positive feedback where modified nucleosomes recruit enzymes that similarly modify nearby nucleosomes. A simplified stochastic model for this type of epigenetics is found here I.B. Dodd, M.A. Micheelsen, K. Sneppen and G. Thon (2007).Theoretical Analysis of Epigenetic Cell Memory by Nucleosome Modification Cell 129 :813-822.

Although most of these multigenerational epigenetic traits are gradually lost over several generations, the possibility remains that multigenerational epigenetics could be another aspect to evolution and adaptation. These effects may require enhancements to the standard conceptual framework of the modern evolutionary synthesis.

Two journals, Epigenetics [2] (Landes Bioscience) and the Open Source, Epigenetics and Chromatin [3] (BioMed Central) are dedicated to the field.

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