Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is Senior Vice President of

The term “epigenetics ” is rapidly becoming one of the more importantwatchwords in the field of alcohol research. Put simply, epigeneticsis the study of changes in gene function that occur without a change in the body’s genetic code, instead relying on epigenetic markers on, among others, the DNA and certain nuclear proteins to turn genes “on” and “off. ” Epigenetic changes also are brought about by histone modifi-cations, as well as by the role that noncoding RNA (ncRNA) plays. By acting on these epigenetic markers, environmental factors such as diet, stress, and prenatal nutrition can make an imprint on the genes that are active in different tissues and at various stages of life. Even more importantly, these alterations may be passed along from one generation to the next. The result is that the influences from harmful environmental factors can be extended beyond the individual and passed to his or her offspring. This issue of Alcohol Research: Current Reviews explores the concept of epigenetics and the role it plays—not only in shaping the key charac-teristics that ensure normal functioning but also which may lead t