epigenomics: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalScientific/Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “epigenomics” mean?
The scientific study of the complete set of epigenetic modifications on the genetic material of a cell, known as the epigenome.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The scientific study of the complete set of epigenetic modifications on the genetic material of a cell, known as the epigenome.
A branch of genomics focusing on the analysis of epigenetic changes (like DNA methylation or histone modification) across the genome, which regulate gene activity without altering the DNA sequence itself and can be influenced by environment, development, and disease.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Pronunciation varies slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal, very low frequency in general discourse but standard in molecular biology, genetics, and biomedical research communities in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “epigenomics” in a Sentence
[Verb] + epigenomics (e.g., 'apply/pioneer/use epigenomics')epigenomics + [Verb] (e.g., 'epigenomics provides/shows/suggests')[Adjective] + epigenomics (e.g., 'comparative/human/epigenomics')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “epigenomics” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team aims to epigenomically profile the tumour samples.
- They are pioneering methods to epigenomic map entire tissues.
American English
- The lab plans to epigenomically characterize the cell lines.
- Researchers are starting to epigenomic sequence at scale.
adjective
British English
- The epigenomic landscape of the cell is highly dynamic.
- They published an epigenomic atlas of human development.
American English
- The epigenomic data revealed novel regulatory regions.
- An epigenomic approach was used in the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in biotech investment or pharmaceutical R&D contexts discussing novel research areas.
Academic
Core term in genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biomedical sciences. Common in journal articles, conference titles, and course names.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only appear in popular science articles or documentaries.
Technical
Standard, high-frequency term in relevant technical literature and laboratory discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “epigenomics”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “epigenomics”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “epigenomics”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'an epigenomics'). *'An epigenomic study' is correct.
- Confusing with 'epigenetics' (the broader study of heritable changes) vs. 'epigenomics' (the large-scale, genome-wide analysis of them).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Epigenetics is the broader study of heritable phenotype changes that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. Epigenomics is a sub-field applying large-scale, genome-wide analysis techniques (like sequencing) to study epigenetic phenomena across the entire genome.
Primarily, yes. Its core applications are in biology, medicine (especially oncology and developmental disorders), and agriculture. However, bioinformatics and data science are crucial for handling epigenomic data.
Some epigenetic marks can be heritable across cell divisions (mitotic inheritance) and, in some cases, across generations of organisms (transgenerational epigenetic inheritance), though this is an area of active research.
Techniques include bisulfite sequencing (for DNA methylation), ChIP-seq (for histone modifications), ATAC-seq (for chromatin accessibility), and various microarray-based methods, often followed by complex computational analysis.
The scientific study of the complete set of epigenetic modifications on the genetic material of a cell, known as the epigenome.
Epigenomics is usually scientific/formal/technical in register.
Epigenomics: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɛpɪdʒɪˈnəʊmɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɛpədʒəˈnoʊmɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EPI-GENOMICS. 'Epi' means 'upon' or 'above' (like an EPIdemic spreads OVER people). 'Genomics' is the study of genomes. So, epigenomics is the study of modifications that sit 'upon' the genome.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE GENOME AS AN ORCHESTRA SCORE, EPIGENOMICS AS THE CONDUCTOR'S MARKS. (The DNA sequence is the notes, epigenomics studies the dynamic instructions (forte, pianissimo, repeats) that determine how and when they are played.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of epigenomics?