1. Plural of epigenome; the complete set of chemical modifications to DNA and histone proteins in a cell that regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself.
Usage: scientific/technical term; used in genetics, molecular biology, and medical research

Examples

• Researchers studied how epigenomes change during development and aging.
• Environmental factors can alter epigenomes and affect gene expression.
• The epigenomes of identical twins diverge over time due to different life experiences.
• Cancer cells often have abnormal epigenomes that silence tumor-suppressor genes.
• Scientists are mapping epigenomes across different cell types to understand cellular diversity.