Definition
Epigenetic marks are chemical tags on DNA or histones that tune expression without changing the underlying sequence.
Origin
Jaenisch and Bird (2003) review how methylation and histone modification integrate intrinsic and environmental signals into stable yet tunable expression patterns.
Mechanism
Marks help explain context-sensitive expression within genetic bounds — not proof that every belief or coaching input rewrites the genome on demand.
Applications
Separate sequence from marks from behaviour — track one tunable input (sleep, safety, load) before claiming genetic fate or wellness magic.
Sources
Cite
- Jaenisch, R., & Bird, A. (2003). Epigenetic regulation of gene expression: How the genome integrates intrinsic and environmental signals. Nature Genetics, 33(Suppl), 245–254.