Final answer:
The mechanism of pluripotency maintenance at the gene level involves DNA methylation, histone modification, suppression of pluripotency-related genes, and increased expression of somatic cell markers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism of pluripotency maintenance at the gene level involves a combination of DNA methylation and histone modification, suppression of pluripotency-related genes, and increased expression of somatic cell markers.
DNA methylation refers to the addition of a methyl group to certain cytosine nucleotides in DNA, which can lead to gene silencing. Histone modification involves chemical changes to histone proteins that package DNA, affecting the availability of DNA for transcription.
Suppression of pluripotency-related genes and increased expression of somatic cell markers are also involved in maintaining pluripotency. Pluripotency-related genes are actively suppressed to prevent differentiation, and somatic cell markers are upregulated to maintain the pluripotent state.