What does the field of epigenetics study?

Epigenetics is a branch of biology that focuses on heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. This field explores mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA molecules that can affect how genes are turned on or off in various environments, leading to variations in phenotype. These changes can be stable and inherited across generations, which underscores the distinction between epigenetics and traditional genetics focused on the genome itself.

The essence of epigenetics lies in the understanding that gene expression can be influenced by various factors, including environmental signals, lifestyle, and developmental processes, thus impacting how organisms express traits without modifying their DNA sequences. This area of study is pivotal in understanding processes like cell differentiation, responses to environmental stressors, and certain diseases, including cancer.