Question

How does an epigenetic change differ from a mutation?A-Mutations involve nucleotide sequences of only one or a few base pairs. An epigenetic change involves large regions of a chromosome, thousands of base pairs or more in length.B-Mutations can be passed on to offspring or to daughter cells. Epigenetic changes cannot be inherited.C-Epigenetic changes occur due to environmental effects and only persist as long as the environment that induced them remains constant. Mutations are permanent.D-A mutation alters the nucleotide sequence in DNA. An epigenetic change does not alter the DNA sequence, but can be inherited by daughter cells.

Answer 1

A mutation changes the DNA sequence and can be harmful or beneficial, while epigenetic changes affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence and can sometimes be inherited. Mutations can be caused by factors like radiation, while epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

How does an epigenetic change differ from a mutation? The primary difference between an epigenetic change and a mutation is that a mutation alters the nucleotide sequence in DNA, whereas an epigenetic change does not affect the DNA sequence. Instead, epigenetic changes modify how genes are expressed, primarily through chemical modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modification.

Mutations can arise spontaneously from errors during DNA replication or from environmental factors such as exposure to radiation or harmful chemicals. These changes in the DNA sequence can be benign, harmful, or beneficial, and they can occur in body cells (somatic mutations) or germ cells (germline mutations). Somatic mutations affect only daughter cells and not offspring, while germline mutations can be passed on to future generations.

In contrast, epigenetic changes can regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. They can be influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle choices, and in some cases, they can be inherited by offspring and persist through multiple cell divisions. Epigenetic changes can exert their effects through histone modification, changing the structure from a tightly packed heterochromatin to a more open euchromatin, enabling or repressing gene transcription.

Answer 2

Option (D).

Step-by-step explanation:

Epigenetic changes may be defined as the changes that can alter the gene expression of an individual. The epigenetic changes occur naturally but may sometimes occur due to environmental factor as well. Mutations may be defined as the sudden heritable change in the DNA sequences. Mutations may be neutral, harmful or beneficial for the organisms.

Mutation always alters or changes the DNA sequence whereas the DNA sequences remain same in the epigenetic changes. The epigenetic changes can be inherited by the daughter cells as well.

Thus, the correct answer is option (D).