Epigenetic Landscapes

Epigenetic landscapes are visualization tools that illustrate how cells differentiate and develop over time. Imagine a ball rolling down a hilly terrain with various paths; the landscape’s shape represents different gene activity states. As the ball moves, it follows certain routes influenced by biochemical marks on DNA and proteins, called epigenetic modifications, which determine whether genes are turned on or off. This concept helps us understand how identical DNA can lead to diverse cell types and how environmental factors can impact gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code.