As an illustration of epigenetics, we’ll take the example of how bee larva becomes a queen or worker bee according to how it is fed: An environmental factor, food in this example, has selected one expression over another, each being available in the genetic “database”.

In other words, epigenetics governs how the genotype is used to create a phenotype.

Vincent Colot, a specialist in plant epigenetics at the biology institute of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS – CNRS – INSERM, Paris) specifies:
« Epigenetics is the science behind how genes change activity – and thus a change of character – transmitted via cell divisions or generations without calling on DNA mutation». 

The conference on breastfeeding and epigenetics promises to be really exciting!

Best regards,
Françoise-Marie Noguès 2016 IBD Coordinator and the whole team