Epigenetics: The Interplay of Nature and Nurture

Abstract

Epigenetics is the regulation of gene expression through alterations in DNA or associated factors other than the DNA sequence. These regulatory processes control the transcription of information encoded in the DNA sequence into RNA before their translation into proteins. Unlike DNA sequence, which is largely fixed throughout the lifecourse, epigenetic patterns not only vary from tissue to tissue but alter with advancing age and are sensitive to environmental exposures. It is this propensity for change that makes epigenetic processes the focus of such interest, as they lie at the interface of the environment and co-ordinated transcriptional control. These factors control the diverse manifestations of diseases. Insights into epigenetic modification may lead to new therapies for common diseases. This article gives a brief overview of the epigenetic mechanisms and their role in some of the common eye diseases.