Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is the study of heritable and dynamic changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes are mediated by molecular marks and regulators, principally DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs, that switch genes on or …

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 33× across the literature

Overview

Epigenetics is the study of heritable and dynamic changes in gene expression that occur without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes are mediated by molecular marks and regulators, principally DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs, that switch genes on or off and tune their activity in response to developmental cues and environmental signals. Because epigenetic states can be established, maintained, and sometimes reversed, they provide a mechanism by which factors such as nutrition, chemical exposure, and other environmental conditions can shape phenotype and influence susceptibility to disease, a theme reflected in research on diet, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and the regulation of disease-associated genes. In the context of hereditary disease, epigenetic regulation interacts with inherited genetic variation to modulate how genes are expressed across tissues and over time, contributing to conditions including cardiovascular disease and chronic pain through altered expression of key genes. Epigenetic mechanisms are also central to stem cell differentiation and development, and microRNA-based regulation has been explored for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Beyond human biology, epigenetic pathways govern trait variation in plants, with implications for crop breeding. The field connects molecular regulation to inheritance, environmental response, and the prospects for epigenetically informed diagnosis and intervention.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2015

Epigenetics and Nutrition

Kenneth LundstromCorresponding author
Exact topic International Journal of Nutrition Cited by 2 doi:10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-14-603

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 33 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Nov 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Epigenetics, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Journal of Hereditary Diseases.

Journal editorial board
Yonghui Li · China Jaishree Paul · India Rajinder kaur · India

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.