The Ministry Education, Culture,Sports,Science and Technology specific area research
Genome Science→
The Japanese Society for Epigenetics
What is Epigenetics？
Epigenetics and Diseases?
What is MIAMI (Genome-wide methylation analysis method using microarray) ?
Hpa II recognition site distribution and number
Strategy for MIAMI
Example of MIAMI analysis
Protocol for MIAMI
R Manual V1
Lm_Prot_AJ_Cmp2_NDC
Correspondence
Izuho Hatada
Biological Genome Resource Center, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation,Gunma University
Link
Hatada Laboratory
Biosignal Genome Resource Center
Gunma University
Institute forMolecular and
Cellular Regulation.Gunma University
Faculty of Medicine,
Gunma University
Faculty of Education,
Gunma University
Faculty of Social&Information Studies,
Gunma University
Faculty of Engineering,
Gunma University
What is Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the study of heritable codes other than genetic codes written in A, G, C, and T.  Epigenetic codes work as gene switches which regulate gene expressions; therefore, cells or individuals with the same genetic information can have different phenotypes.  A tortoiseshell cat with brown and black spots is an example of cells with the same genetic information and different phenotypes.  Monozygotic twins and cloned animals are examples of individuals with the same genetic information and different phenotypes. 
DNA methylation and histone modifications (acetylation and methylation) serve as epigenetic code.  DNA methylation shuts off genes and histone acetylation turns on genes. 
One interesting observation is epigenetic changes by environment. Offspring with a long nursing time were found to be resistant to stress, as compared to offspring with a short nursing time.  This can be explained by DNA methylation and suppression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in offspring with a short nursing time.