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Chapter 15: Problem 24

What is DNA methylation? When we say that DNA methylation is heritable, what do we mean? How is it passed from a mother to a daughter cell?

Short Answer

Expert verified
DNA methylation is a biochemical process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule, modifying the function of the genes. It is heritable, meaning it can be passed from parent generation to offspring with changes imposed upon gene expression, not base sequence. The pattern of DNA methylation that has occurred in the parent or mother cell is the one passed on to the 'daughter' cells during cell division, with the help of enzymes called DNA methyltransferases.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding DNA Methylation

DNA methylation is a biological process by which methyl groups are added to the DNA molecule. It is a crucial part of normal organismal development and cellular differentiation in higher organisms. Methylation can change the activity of a DNA segment without changing its sequence.
02

Heritability of DNA Methylation

When one referred that DNA methylation is heritable, it is meant that this characteristic can be passed from parent generation to offspring. These changes are not upon the base sequence of DNA but on the way the genes are expressed.
03

Transmission of DNA Methylation from Mother to Daughter Cell

During the replication or cell division process, the mother cell splits to form two daughter cells. As the DNA splits, the old strands retain their methylation patterns, and new DNA methylation is incorporated into the newly synthesized' daughter' DNA strands. Enzymes known as DNA methyltransferases play a crucial role in this process.

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