By
John Cloud Wednesday, Jan. 06, 20

excerpt;

Meet the Epigenome
The answer lies beyond both nature and nurture. Bygren's data — along
with those of many other scientists working separately over the past 20
years — have given birth to a new science called epigenetics. At its
most basic, epigenetics is the study of changes in gene activity that do
not involve alterations to the genetic code but still get passed down
to at least one successive generation. These patterns of gene expression
are governed by the cellular material — the epigenome — that sits on
top of the genome, just outside it (hence the prefix epi-, which
means above). It is these epigenetic "marks" that tell your genes to
switch on or off, to speak loudly or whisper. It is through epigenetic
marks that environmental factors like diet, stress and prenatal
nutrition can make an imprint on genes that is passed from one
generation to the next.
See how to prevent illness at any age.
See the top 10 scientific discoveries of 2008.