Epigenetic Mechanisms
Permanent URI for this community
During human development a single zygote differentiates into approximately 200 different cell types that, despite being genetically identical, maintain their cellular identity through mitotic divisions. Therefore, in addition to the genomic information embedded in the primary DNA sequence, epigenetic information is propagated as well, that “memorizes” gene activity states and specific chromatin structures across somatic division and sometimes even across generations.