epigenetic

adjective epi·ge·net·ic \ ˌe-pə-jə-ˈne-tik \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of epigenetic

1 a : of, relating to, or produced by the chain of developmental processes in epigenesis that lead from genotype to phenotype after the initial action of the genes

b : relating to, being, or involving changes in gene function that do not involve changes in DNA sequence

epigenetic inheritance

2 of a deposit or structure : formed after the laying down of the enclosing rock

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epigenetically

play \ˌe-pə-jə-ˈne-ti-k(-ə)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of epigenetic from the Web

The team hope to spot epigenetic patterns that will both give away those cells which are infected and help explain how HIV genes in a cell’s nucleus are activated and deactivated.

— The Economist, "HIV+ volunteers are bequeathing their organs to a new project," 31 May 2018
The team found that these early signs of handedness appear to be linked to lopsided epigenetic activity: chemical changes that effectively turn certain genes on or off without altering the DNA sequence itself.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Was Science Wrong About Being Right?," 18 May 2018
The epigenetic benefits from running ended when the running did.

— gretchen reynolds, New York Times, "Do Fathers Who Exercise Have Smarter Babies?," 9 May 2018
But epigenetic effects might be treatable, by boosting levels of particular micro-RNAs in sperm, for example.

— The Economist, "How stress echoes down the generations," 24 May 2018
The research is preliminary, however, and scientists have not identified what causes these epigenetic changes.

— gemma tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Was Science Wrong About Being Right?," 18 May 2018
Glanzman’s lab and others have also shown that long-term memory formation can be blocked by preventing epigenetic changes, even when synapse formation or strengthening is not altered.

— usha lee mcfarling, STAT, "Memory transferred between snails, challenging standard theory of how the brain remembers," 14 May 2018
So this time the Chinese team deployed two critical enzymes that removed genes’ epigenetic memory of being somatic cells (cells that make up tissues and organs).

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "First Primate Clones Produced Using the “Dolly” Method," 24 Jan. 2018
Magic and myth are part of my epigenetic inheritance.

— janice gary, Longreads, "Bang and Vanish," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'epigenetic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of epigenetic

epi- + genetic, after epigenesis

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1883

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

epigenetic

adjective epi·ge·net·ic \ -jə-ˈnet-ik \

medical Definition of epigenetic

1 : of, relating to, or produced by epigenesis

the epigenetic nature of vertebrate development

2 : relating to, being, or involving a modification in gene expression that is independent of the DNA sequence of a gene

epigenetic carcinogenesis

epigenetic inheritance

Methylation is one of many epigenetic signals—chemical changes to DNA and its associated proteins—that modify gene activity without altering the genetic information itself.
—Tina Hesman Saey, Science News, 14 Feb. 2009

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