Environmental influence and epigenetic inheritance
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Flip to reveal answersName four environmental factors that can change epigenetic marks.
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Question
Name four environmental factors that can change epigenetic marks.
Answer
**Diet, stress, toxins and temperature** — each can add or remove marks and switch genes on or off.
Question
How does the environment change gene expression?
Answer
It **alters epigenetic marks** (e.g. **methylation**) on top of the DNA, switching genes on or off — **without changing the base sequence**.
Question
Are epigenetic changes inherited? How?
Answer
Yes — **through mitosis** to daughter cells (maintaining a differentiated state), and **sometimes across generations** to offspring.
Question
Epigenetic change vs mutation — the key difference?
Answer
An **epigenetic change** alters the **marks** (base sequence unchanged, **reversible**); a **mutation** changes the **DNA base sequence** (usually **permanent**).
Question
Why can identical twins end up different?
Answer
Same DNA, but **different environments change their epigenetic marks** over time → **same genotype, different phenotype**.
Question
In one line, what does epigenetics explain?
Answer
How the **same genotype** can give **different phenotypes**, depending on the **environment** and the cell's **history**.
Question
Define an epigenetic mark.
Answer
A **chemical tag on top of the DNA** (e.g. a methyl group) that changes **gene expression without changing the base sequence**.
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Gene expression
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