Epigenetics

Dec 19, 2008 7:20 PM

The best example of epigenetic changes in <a class="mw-redirect" href="/wiki/Eukaryotic" title="Eukaryotic">eukaryotic</a> biology is the process of <a href="/wiki/Morphogenesis" title="Morphogenesis">cellular differentiation</a>. During morphogenesis, <a title="Totipotent" href="/wiki/Totipotent" class="mw-redirect">totipotent</a> <a title="Stem cells" href="/wiki/Stem_cells" class="mw-redirect">stem cells</a> become the various <a title="Pluripotent" href="/wiki/Pluripotent" class="mw-redirect">pluripotent</a> <a title="Cell line" href="/wiki/Cell_line" class="mw-redirect">cell lines</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Embryo" title="Embryo">embryo</a> which in turn become fully differentiated cells. In other words, a single fertilized egg cell - the <a href="/wiki/Zygote" title="Zygote">zygote</a> - changes into the many cell types including neurons, muscle cells, epithelium, blood vessels et cetera as it continues to <a href="/wiki/Mitosis" title="Mitosis">divide</a>. It does so by activating some genes while inhibiting others.<a href="#cite_note-2" title="">[3]</a>

Epigenetics

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