In a way that relates to how genes are turned on or off without changing the DNA sequence itself, affecting how traits are expressed.
From epigenetic (adjective), combining epi- (upon) + genetic (relating to genes). The term gained modern prominence in the late 20th century as scientists discovered chemical switches that control genes.
Your genes are like a cookbook, but epigenetics is the instruction that determines which recipes get made—identical twins have identical DNA but can develop different diseases because of different epigenetic patterns!
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