Definition
Epigenomics is the study based on the comprehensive analyses of the entire epigenome using high-throughput technologies, including physical modifications, associations and conformations of genomic DNA sequences. The complete set of the epigenetic landscape in a cell is known as epigenome, which is tissue specific, developmentally regulated, and highly dynamic. This variability offers a potential explanation for individual differences in phenotype. Aberrant epigenetic marks are associated with a range of complex pathologies, including cancer. The field of epigenomics involves chromatin, the three-dimensional complex of DNA, protein, and noncoding RNAs that determines the accessibility of DNA by the transcriptional machinery.
Characteristics
The Epigenome and Cancer
The term epigeneticswas first used by Prof. Conrad H. Waddington in 1942 as part of his model of how cell fates are established during development. It usually refers to reversible biochemical alterations of DNA...
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References
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See Also
(2012) Acetylation. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 17. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_24
(2012) Biomarkers. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, pp 408–409. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_6601
(2012) Hypermethylation. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 1784. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_2910
(2012) Phosphorylation. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 2870. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_4544
(2012) Sumoylation. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 3562. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_5572
(2012) Transcription factor. In: Schwab M (ed) Encyclopedia of cancer, 3rd edn. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, p 3752. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-16483-5_5901
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Cho, W.CS. (2014). Epigenomics. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46875-3_1950
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46875-3_1950
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