Trigger 8: Basic epigenetics Flashcards
define what the epigenome is
the REVERSIBLE regulation of gene expression, mediated primarily through changes in DNA methylation
DNA determines
which mRNA is synthesises
Epigenetic determines
how much mRNA is made, where and when it is synthesised
how can genes without mutations cause mutations
due to epigenetic editing increasing or decreasing gene expression
epi means
above
the epigenome control
gene accessibility
the epigenome does not control
the genetic code
Two main types of chemical modifications
- chemical modification of the genome
- histone modification
genomic modification
through methylation and demethylation
histone modification through
- acetylation
- deacetylation
- methylation
- phosphorylation
epigenetic modifications act as switches
turning genes on/ off, decreasing/ increasing expression
epigenetic explains why cells of identical phenotype end up as
neurones, muscle and skin
why is the epigenome importnant
causes cellular differentiation during foetal development- meaning that although all cells have the same genome, they are not the same due to differences in the epigenome
different cell types are characterised by
different epigenomes
haploid genome contains how many BP
3 billion (6 billion in diploid)
all the base pairs are packaged into
23 chromosomes (46)
DNA is complexed with
histones
Nucleosomes consist of
8 histones around which DNA wraps 1.65 times
DNA methylation involves the methylation of what
CpG islands
CpG islands
parts of the genome rich in Cytosine and guanine
C and G order
C must come before G
which part of the CpG island is methylated
Addition of methyl group to C-5 position of cytosine residues.