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Epigenetic variation and cellular Darwinism

The human genome contains large areas with hypervariable DNA methylation that are associated with deregulation of gene expression. This epigenetic variation may be necessary for differentiation, but it also provides a mechanism for Darwinian evolution at the cellular level that may underlie age-related diseases such as cancer.

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Figure 1: Epigenetic variation.

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Correspondence to Jean-Pierre Issa.

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Issa, JP. Epigenetic variation and cellular Darwinism. Nat Genet 43, 724–726 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.897

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