Final answer:
Methylation imprinting generally does not undergo erasure and re-establishment in somatic cells, unlike in germ cells and early embryonic cells where this process occurs. In cancer cells, epigenetic alterations involving DNA methylation can silence genes, which researchers aim to potentially reverse to treat cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erasure and re-establishment of methylation, specifically DNA methylation, typically do not occur in somatic cells. These cells retain their methylation patterns throughout their lifespan, except in certain rare pathological conditions such as cancer. In contrast, germ cells and early embryonic cells undergo a process of methylation reprogramming. In cancer cells, gene silencing is often achieved through hypermethylation of DNA and hypoacetylation of histones, which is a type of epigenetic alteration. Scientists are exploring ways to reverse these epigenetic modifications to potentially turn silenced genes back on and restore normal cellular functions.