The one who first coined the term epigenetics defining it as "the branch of biology that studies the causal interactions between genes and their products and creates a phenotype" was the biologist Conrad Waddington. The molecular basis of epigenetics is complex. Epigenetic changes are rapid, functional, non-structural, reversible, and partly transmissible DNA changes from one generation to the next. These are modifications that affect the activation of certain genes, but not their basic structure. In this context, the so-called epigenome of an individual allows it to better adapt to the environment in which it finds itself. Epigenetics is also involved in the pathogenesis of other diseases, such as cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, offering the possibility of the development of new epigenetic therapies both for tumors in which an epigenetic component can be discovered in the various genes that may be involved, both for other diseases. If the epigenetic markings can be passed on to future generations, the inherited advantage, more frequently the disadvantage, passes to the new generations, and in this way the injustices are perpetuated.

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表观遗传学及其伦理意义

第一个创造术语表观遗传学的人是生物学家康拉德·沃丁顿，将其定义为“研究基因与其产物之间的因果相互作用并产生表型的生物学分支”。表观遗传学的分子基础是复杂的。表观遗传变化是从一代到下一代的快速、功能性、非结构性、可逆和部分可传递的 DNA 变化。这些修饰会影响某些基因的激活，但不会影响它们的基本结构。在这种情况下，个体所谓的表观基因组使其能够更好地适应所处的环境。表观遗传学还涉及其他疾病的发病机制，例如癌症、肥胖症、2 型糖尿病和神经退行性疾病。表观遗传变化可能是可逆的，为开发针对肿瘤的新表观遗传疗法提供了可能性，其中可以在可能涉及的各种基因中发现表观遗传成分，包括其他疾病。如果表观遗传标记可以传递给后代，则遗传优势，更常见的是劣势，会传递给下一代，这样不公正就会延续下去。