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Abstract
DNA methylation represents an annotation system for marking the genetic text, thus
providing instruction as to how and when to read the information and control transcription.
Unlike sequence information, which is inherited, methylation patterns are established
in a programmed process that continues throughout development, thus setting up stable
gene expression profiles. This DNA methylation paradigm is a key player in medicine.
Some changes in methylation closely correlate with age providing a marker for biological
ageing, and these same sites could also play a part in cancer. The genome continues
to undergo programmed variation in methylation after birth in response to environmental
inputs, serving as a memory device that could affect ageing and predisposition to
various metabolic, autoimmune, and neurological diseases. Taking advantage of tissue-specific
differences, methylation can be used to detect cell death and thereby monitor many
common diseases with a simple cell-free circulating-DNA blood test.