2004/01/01 by David Haig, D. HAIG · 4 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Epigenetics and DNA Methylation #Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting #Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1101/sqb.2004.69.67
openalex publication_date 2004/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
"Epigenetics" has different meanings for different scientists. Molecular biologists are probably most familiarwith a definition of epigenetics as "the study of mitotically and/or meiotically heritable changes in gene function that cannot be explained by changes in DNA sequence" (Riggs et al. 1996). For them, epigeneticmechanisms would include DNA methylation and histone modification. Functional morphologists, however,would be more familiar with a definition such as that ofHerring (1993), for whom epigenetics refers to "the entire series of interactions among cells and cell productswhich leads to morphogenesis and differentiation." Shecontinues that "among the numerous epigenetic factorsinfluencing the vertebrate face is mechanical loading"and that "epigenetic influences range from hormones andgrowth factors to ambient temperature and orientation ina gravitational field." In this note, I will argue that thesedisparate definitions have come about because "epigenetics" had at least two semi-independent origins during the20th century...