Epigenomics Quiz

Epigenomics

Definition

• Study of epigenetic changes, which are chemical modifications to DNA or histone proteins that can affect gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

Key Concepts

• Epigenetic marks: chemical modifications to DNA or histone proteins that can be inherited through cell division.
• Epigenetic inheritance: transmission of epigenetic marks from parent to offspring.
• Epigenetic reprogramming: erasure of epigenetic marks during gametogenesis or embryogenesis.

Epigenetic Mechanisms

• DNA Methylation: addition of a methyl group to cytosine residues in CpG islands, leading to gene silencing.
• Histone Modification: addition of various chemical groups (e.g., methyl, acetyl) to histone proteins, affecting chromatin structure and gene expression.
• Chromatin Remodeling: reorganization of chromatin structure to alter gene accessibility.

Epigenomics Techniques

• ChIP-Seq (Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing): mapping epigenetic marks to specific genomic locations.
• Bisulfite Sequencing: detecting DNA methylation at single-base resolution.
• ATAC-Seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin Sequencing): identifying open chromatin regions.

Epigenomics Applications

• Cancer Research: studying epigenetic changes in tumor development and progression.
• Developmental Biology: understanding epigenetic regulation of gene expression during development.
• Stem Cell Biology: investigating epigenetic mechanisms in stem cell maintenance and differentiation.
• Agricultural Science: improving crop yield and disease resistance through epigenetic modification.

Epigenomics

Definition

• Epigenomics is the study of epigenetic changes, which are chemical modifications to DNA or histone proteins that can affect gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.

Key Concepts

• Epigenetic marks are chemical modifications to DNA or histone proteins that can be inherited through cell division.
• Epigenetic inheritance is the transmission of epigenetic marks from parent to offspring.
• Epigenetic reprogramming is the erasure of epigenetic marks during gametogenesis or embryogenesis.

Epigenetic Mechanisms

• DNA methylation is the addition of a methyl group to cytosine residues in CpG islands, leading to gene silencing.
• Histone modification is the addition of various chemical groups (e.g., methyl, acetyl) to histone proteins, affecting chromatin structure and gene expression.
• Chromatin remodeling is the reorganization of chromatin structure to alter gene accessibility.

Epigenomics Techniques

• ChIP-Seq (Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing) is used to map epigenetic marks to specific genomic locations.
• Bisulfite sequencing is used to detect DNA methylation at single-base resolution.
• ATAC-Seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin Sequencing) is used to identify open chromatin regions.

Epigenomics Applications

• Epigenomics is used in cancer research to study epigenetic changes in tumor development and progression.
• Epigenomics is used in developmental biology to understand epigenetic regulation of gene expression during development.
• Epigenomics is used in stem cell biology to investigate epigenetic mechanisms in stem cell maintenance and differentiation.
• Epigenomics is used in agricultural science to improve crop yield and disease resistance through epigenetic modification.

Epigenomics

• Epigenomics is the study of epigenetic changes across the entire genome.

Epigenetic Marks

• DNA Methylation: adds a methyl group to cytosine residues in CpG dinucleotides, leading to gene silencing.
• Histone Modifications: adds chemical groups (e.g., methyl, acetyl, phosphate) to histone proteins, affecting chromatin structure and accessibility.

Epigenomic Technologies

• ChIP-Seq: uses antibodies to pull down specific histone modifications or proteins, followed by sequencing to identify binding sites.
• Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS): measures DNA methylation levels across the entire genome.
• Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing (RRBS): a cost-effective alternative to WGBS, focusing on specific genomic regions.

Epigenomic Applications

• Cancer Research: identifies epigenetic changes associated with tumorigenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
• Developmental Biology: studies epigenetic regulation of gene expression during development and cellular differentiation.
• Neurological Disorders: investigates epigenetic changes associated with neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.