What’s the Difference?
Mutations and epigenetic changes can make a lasting impact on our genes, but they go about change in distinct ways.
By Rachael Moeller Gorman // Fall 2007
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A MUTATION... |
AN EPIGENETIC CHANGE... |
| Modifies the genome—the set of genes each individual possesses | Modifies the epigenome, which determines which genes are expressed (turned on) or silenced (turned off) |
| Can occur at any point in life | Mainly occurs during crucial points in development, particularly in the womb and during the slow growth period, which precedes puberty |
| Could have a pathological effect; it’s the result of damage or a molecular mistake | Is usually an adaptive measure to help a person survive in his or her environment |
| Changes the DNA sequence. Mutations include the insertion or deletion of a base pair or a change in a base pair | Changes the scaffolding that carries the DNA sequence. In one method, methylation, a chemical compound called a methyl group attaches to cytosine (C), barring nearby genes from being transcribed into a protein |
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