DNA methylation is one of the ways cells regulate gene activity. It adds a chemical mark to DNA that can make certain genes easier or harder for the cell to read.
That means the genome is not just a static instruction book. Cells use methylation to decide which instructions matter in a particular tissue, at a particular time, or in response to a signal.
The simple version is: same DNA, different expression. Methylation helps tell the cell which genes to use and which ones to keep quieter.
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