Although epigenetic changes were long thought to largely act on the genome, rather than as part of it, research is now showing that these patterns can, directly or indirectly, change the genetic code.

Evidence is mounting that epigenetic marks on DNA can influence future generations in a variety of ways. But how such phenomena might affect large-scale evolutionary processes is hotly debated.

A protein duo increases transcription of growth-related genes to enhance axon regeneration and boost plasticity, a study finds—but fails to improve mobility.

A CRISPR-based system that reverses epigenetic changes caused by adolescent binge drinking reduces adult addiction-like behaviors in rats, a study finds, suggesting that an epigenomic approach could someday help treat people with alcohol use disorder.

The dynamic behavior of a transcriptional activator can be used to specify the activity level of its target gene, a study suggests.

In mice, epigenetic marks made on histones during infancy influence depression-like behavior during adulthood. A drug that reverses the genomic tags appears to undo the damage.

Altering DNA methylation in a particular area of the hypothalamus halved the animals’ voluntary exercise as adults.

Using CRISPR and other tools, scientists are modifying DNA methylation, histone marks, and other modifiers of gene expression to understand how they affect health and disease.

A study of chemical tags on histone proteins hints at how the same genome can yield very different animals.

Emerging technologies help researchers draw mechanistic links between metabolism and epigenetic modification of DNA.

Some viral pathogens modify chromatin and other epigenetic machinery, making them appealing drug targets.

Unlike animals, plants stably pass on their DNA methylomes from one generation to the next. The resulting gene silencing likely hides an abundance of phenotypic variation.

Multiple molecular mechanisms keep plant DNA methylation in order.

A molecular biologist ventures into entomology to use genetically modified ants as laboratory models of behavioral epigenetics.

Understanding postmortem gene expression could help researchers improve organ transplants and time-of-death estimates, according to studies on mice and zebrafish.

Differential expression of a chromatin-interacting protein is linked to weight variation in mice and humans, researchers show.

DNA isn’t the only decorated nucleic acid in the cell. Modifications to RNA molecules are much more common and are critical for regulating diverse biological processes.

Additions to the bases of RNA molecules can be written, read, and erased.

The use of targetable chromatin modifiers has ushered in a new era of functional epigenomics.