Plant Methylation

Plant methylation refers to a chemical modification of DNA where methyl groups are added to certain DNA bases. This process plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and can influence how plants grow and develop, as well as their responses to environmental changes. Methylation can turn genes on or off without altering the DNA sequence itself, allowing plants to adapt to stress or changes in their surroundings. This ability to modify gene activity through methylation is an important aspect of plant biology and can affect everything from flowering times to resistance to pests.