What is epigenetics?

From Encyclopedia of Child Development website: In recent years, a lot of new information has emerged on epigenetics that allows us to better understand how developmental trajectories can be either adaptive or maladaptive.

Experiences and environmental exposures act on genes like a dimmer switch to increase or decrease gene expression, the amount of gene product (RNA, protein) that a gene makes in response to a given environment. This is thought to regulate the neurodevelopment that underlies learning, behaviour as well as mental and physical health.