The physics of epigenetics

Abstract

Epigenetics is essential in understanding the development, from a common undifferentiated cell, of different cell types that share the same hereditary materials in their genome. A meaningful decoration of chemical marks on chromosomes selects the genes to be expressed by directing the differential folding of the genome in the cell nucleus. This article surveys plausible physical mechanisms involved in setting up epigenetic marks and their role in genome folding and expression.