Epigenetic inheritance: Uncontested?

Abstract

Epigenetics is currently defined as the inheritance of variation (-genetics) above and beyond (epi-) changes in the DNA sequence. Despite the fact that histones are believed to carry important epigenetic information, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of the inheritance of histone-based epigenetic information, including histone modifications and histone variants. Here we review recent progress and discuss potential models for the mitotic inheritance of histone modifications-based epigenetic information. © 2011 IBCB, SIBS, CAS All rights reserved.