Final answer:
CpG islands are genomic regions with a high frequency of cytosine and guanine dinucleotide DNA pairs where methylation can regulate gene expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genomic regions where the CpG content is greater than 1 CpG/10 bp are known as CpG islands. These regions are characterized by a high frequency of cytosine and guanine dinucleotide DNA pairs and are often found in the promoter regions of genes.
In CpG islands, the cytosine in the CG pair can be methylated, with a methyl group being added. This methylation process can change the interaction of DNA with proteins, such as histones, affecting gene expression. Methylated cytosines can lead to silenced genes, and this modification can be important for gene regulation, including during development and in response to environmental factors like parental diet.