epigenetics

• epigenetics is the change to our genetic information without changing the genes themselves: it is a process that happens throughout life and is caused by interaction with the environment. Aspects of our lifestyle/events we encounter(smoking/diet/trauma) leave ‘marks’(mutations) on our DNA which switch genes on or off. explains why factors such as smoking having a lifelong influence even after you stop – they have changed the way your genes will be expressed(phenotype)
• Epigenetic changes go on and influence genetic codes of our children and their children, e.g if a woman smokes while pregnant it will induce changes in 3 generations at once

  (herself,unborn daughter,grandaughter)