Epigenetics is the study of hereditary and non-hereditary changes in the translation of genes, which do not result from mutation. Epigenetic alterations to DNA can occur in many different ways; histone modification, DNA methylations, microRNA expression and changes in chromatin structure (Ntanasis-Stathopoulos et al). Depending on their presentation, they can be passed on to offspring. The exact mechanism of inherited epigenetic modification has not been discovered, but all these alterations could impact a wide range of disorders and have far-reaching implications in the medical field. The study of epigenetics seeks to answer the age-old question of whether nature or nurture is responsible for our phenotype, and has arrived at the answer that in reality both are. The discovery of epigenetic changes can lead us to cure many disorders and even personality problems. As stated previously, there are several ways these changes can occur, but the ones I will focus on are the changes that occur in the methyl and acetyl groups. The mechanism of inheritance in animals is information encoded in genes. Genes are wrapped around histones in the nucleus. When methyl groups attach to these histones, the genes coil together more tightly, and as the shape is altered, it also alters the protein encoded by the gene. In general, when you add a methyl group to histones, or the "coil" of the gene, it becomes more difficult to code for proteins in that gene, just as if you got something stuck in the chain of your bicycle and tried to pedal it. The more methyl groups that accumulate, the worse the problem becomes. However, in most cases acetylation unwinds some histones, activating or reactivating a gene. Scientists are exploring... middle of paper ......pygenic signature on your genes. Discover Magazine, May 2013. Online periodical. Available from: http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes#.Uwx4bijWq0t.Kim, J,K, M. Samaranayake, S. Pradhan. Epigenetic mechanisms in mammals. Cell Mol Life Sci, February 2009; 66(4): 596–612. Published online November 3, 2008.PMCID: PMC2780668. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18985277.Ntanasis-Stathopoulos, J, Tzanninis, JG, Philippou, A, Koutsilieris, M. Epigenetic regulation on exercise-induced gene expression . Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interaction, 2013 Jun.PMID: 23728100. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23728100.Simmons, D. Influenza and epigenetic disease. Nature Education, 2008. Available from: http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/epigenetic-influences-and-disease-895.