1. The study of how genes are turned on or off without changes to the DNA sequence itself, often influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle.
Usage: Used as a mass noun (uncountable) in scientific contexts; Increasingly common in biology, medicine, and health education

Examples

• Epigenetics explains how identical twins can develop different traits over time.
• Researchers in epigenetics study how diet and stress affect gene expression.
• The field of epigenetics has revealed that environmental factors can influence which genes are active.
• Epigenetics shows that your lifestyle choices may affect how your genes function.
• Scientists use epigenetics to understand why some people are more susceptible to certain diseases.
• Epigenetics bridges the gap between nature and nurture by showing how both genes and environment matter.