The variation could be inherited and be a part of the studied individual and therefore even be in its germline. This is called transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and proofs that epigenetic markers can be inherited, even though it is not exactly understood how (Rakyan et al. 2011b).
Also, Stochastics are an important factor in epigenetic variation. If the variation occurs early, like in the utero, it can affect the whole body of the individual, but If it occurs after birth or later in life, it could only affect certain cells (Rakyan et al. 2011b).
A more known cause for epigenetic variation would be the environmental induction later in life. This can happen for many reasons. Like through eating habits or smoking. Examples for that can be Diabetes type I and several types of cancer (Rakyan et al. 2011b). …show more content…
It is possible, that every perturbation of cellular homeostasis is a result of epigenetic influences, when these cells are self-renewing stem/progenitor cells or live for a long time, it is particularly possible that the phenotype change stays. These epigenetic changes can occur several times during the lifetime of an individual human or animal and even an effect of the genotype on the epigenetic variance can’t be excluded. Methylation quantitative trait loci (MethQTLs) are genetic variants that have an impact on methylation (Birney et al. 2016; Flanagan 2015; Rakyan et al. 2011b).
It is also possible that a disease can be in the individual prior onset, maybe through heredity, but the actual outbreak is caused by an environmental factor like a certain diet or smoking (Rakyan et al.
Also, Stochastics are an important factor in epigenetic variation. If the variation occurs early, like in the utero, it can affect the whole body of the individual, but If it occurs after birth or later in life, it could only affect certain cells (Rakyan et al. 2011b).
A more known cause for epigenetic variation would be the environmental induction later in life. This can happen for many reasons. Like through eating habits or smoking. Examples for that can be Diabetes type I and several types of cancer (Rakyan et al. 2011b). …show more content…
It is possible, that every perturbation of cellular homeostasis is a result of epigenetic influences, when these cells are self-renewing stem/progenitor cells or live for a long time, it is particularly possible that the phenotype change stays. These epigenetic changes can occur several times during the lifetime of an individual human or animal and even an effect of the genotype on the epigenetic variance can’t be excluded. Methylation quantitative trait loci (MethQTLs) are genetic variants that have an impact on methylation (Birney et al. 2016; Flanagan 2015; Rakyan et al. 2011b).
It is also possible that a disease can be in the individual prior onset, maybe through heredity, but the actual outbreak is caused by an environmental factor like a certain diet or smoking (Rakyan et al.