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epigenetics

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epigenetics

  • /ˌɛpɪd͡ʒəˈnɛtɪks/

Where it comes from

Blend of epigenesis + genetics; coined by British biologist and geneticist C. H. Waddington in 1942.

noun

  1. uncountable The study of the processes involved in the genetic development of an organism, especially the activation and deactivation of genes. Epigenetics deals with the regulation of genetic activity within a cell - which genes are switched on or off, and when it happens.
  2. uncountable The study of heritable changes caused by the activation and deactivation of genes without any change in DNA sequence.

Translations

Every language

noun study of processes

Españolepigenética
日本語エピジェネティクス epijenetikusu, 後生学 kōseigaku
中文表觀遺傳學 /表观遗传学 biǎoguān yíchuánxué
Portuguêsepigenética
Françaisépigénétique
DeutschEpigenetik
Italianoepigenetica
Русскийэпигенетика epigenetika

noun study of heritable changes

Españolepigenética
日本語エピジェネティクス epijenetikusu, 後生学 kōseigaku
Portuguêsepigenética
Françaisépigénétique
DeutschEpigenetik
Italianoepigenetica
Русскийэпигенетика epigenetika

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MLA

"epigenetics." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/epigenetics. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

epigenetics. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/epigenetics

Chicago

"epigenetics." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/epigenetics.

BibTeX
@misc{epigenetics_2026,
  title = {epigenetics},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/epigenetics},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}