What is the significance of epigenetics?

Epigenetics is significant for several reasons. One reason is because it plays a role in gene expression regulation. In multicellular organisms, epigenetic changes allow individual cells to activate or silence specific genes necessary for their unique functions. These modifications also ensure that this gene expression information is successfully passed on to the cell's offspring during cell division. Additionally, epigenetic modifications can be inherited through cell divisions. This provides a form of cellular memory that ensures stable gene expression patterns are sustained in different cell types despite a common genotype. Methylation (a prevalent epigenetic modification in cells) is closely associated with numerous human diseases such as autoimmune conditions, various cancers, and neurological disorders.