LO 68 Identify the elements that make an epigenetic trait.Which of the following elements is necessary for an epigenetic effect to take place?Inheritance of the modification to offspringA modification in gene expressionA modification of the nucleotide sequenceA modification of the RNA sequenceEnvironmental influenceA mutationInheritance of the modification

What is the epigenetic effect? Epigenetics deals with the study of phenotypes that environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. So, various environmental effects like diet, lifestyle, exposure to disease, and pollution causes an impact on the genome & modified genome. Known as Epigenetic modifications of genes. If the modified gene inherits from one generation to the next generation, known as an epigenetic effect. Example - Having a mutation in the BRCA1 gene prevents it from working properly. That causes breast and other cancers. The mutated BRCA1 gene inherits from one generation to the next generation through epigenetics. Major factors of epigenetic regulation - DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNA action like miRNA, and siRNA. The following elements are necessary for an epigenetic effect to take place are - Inheritance of modification to offspring. A modification of gene expression. Environmental influence. Explanation - Epigenetic changes are always inherited from one generation to the next generation. The modification of the DNA is by the influence of environmental factors like diet, obesity, physical activity, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, environmental pollutants, psychological stress, and working night shifts. If an epigenetic modification occurs at the promoter region of the gene, that cause changes in gene expression, that cause formation of protein product at a different level. That changes phenotypic changes in the organisms. Why not choose other options - A modification of the nucleotide sequence - A modification of the nucleotide sequence cause mutation in the gene, which can be beneficial or harmful. The phenotypic changes may not favor the environment. So, this option is incorrect for the epigenetic effect. A modification in the RNA sequence - Modification in the RNA sequence will cause a change in the protein products only in that cell. The changes in gene product will not transfer to the next generation because the RNA is not inherited as genetic material. So, this option is incorrect for the epigenetic effect. A mutation - Epigenetic changes differ from a mutation in that, the mutation causes changes in nucleotide sequence but epigenetics cause modification of bases. That causes genes turned on or off. So, this option is incorrect for the epigenetic effect.