Answer:
The given blank can be filled with epigenetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of heritable modifications in gene expression, which do not comprise modifications in the underlying sequence of DNA is known as epigenetics. It involves a change in phenotype without modification in genotype, this, in turn, influences how the cells read the genes. The epigenetic modification is a natural and regular phenomenon that can also be affected by many other elements like the environment, age, and the disease state.