Question

Which of the following is an example of epigenetic inheritance?

1) Methylation of DNA that occurs in an oocyte
2) A modified histone in a stem cell
3) A chromatin modification that causes cancer in a lung cell
4) Mutation of DNA in a sperm cell

Answer 1

Epigenetic inheritance refers to the transmission of changes in gene expression patterns that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence itself but rather by chemical modifications to the DNA or its associated proteins. Methylation of DNA and chromatin modifications are examples of epigenetic inheritance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Epigenetic inheritance refers to the transmission of changes in gene expression patterns that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence itself but rather by chemical modifications to the DNA or its associated proteins. In the given options, an example of epigenetic inheritance is methylation of DNA that occurs in an oocyte (option 1) and a chromatin modification that causes cancer in a lung cell (option 3). Methylation of DNA can affect gene expression and can be passed on to future generations. Similarly, chromatin modifications can lead to altered gene expression and can also be inherited.