Molecular modifications to the structure of histone proteins and DNA (chromatin) play a significant role in regulating the transcription of genes without altering their nucleotide sequence. Certain epigenetic modifications to DNA are heritable in the form of genomic imprinting, whereby subsets of genes are silenced according to parent-of-origin. This form of gene regulation is primarily under matrilineal control and has evolved partly to co-ordinate in-utero development with maternal resource availability. Changes to epigenetic mechanisms in post-mitotic neurons may also be activated during development in response to environmental stimuli such as maternal care and social interactions. This results in long-lasting stable, or short-term dynamic, changes to the neuronal phenotype producing long-term behavioural consequences. Use of evolutionary conserved mechanisms have thus been adapted to modify the control of gene expression and embryonic growth of the brain as well as allowing for plastic changes in the post-natal brain in response to external environmental and social cues.

中文翻译：

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表观遗传学、大脑进化和行为

对组蛋白和 DNA（染色质）结构的分子修饰在调节基因转录而不改变其核苷酸序列方面发挥着重要作用。对 DNA 的某些表观遗传修饰可以基因组印记的形式遗传，其中基因的子集根据亲本被沉默。这种形式的基因调控主要受母系控制，并已部分演变为协调子宫内发育与母系资源的可用性。有丝分裂后神经元表观遗传机制的变化也可能在发育过程中被激活，以响应环境刺激，如母体护理和社会互动。这导致神经元表型的长期稳定或短期动态变化，产生长期行为后果。