Living Environment Regents Practice Test

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Why is it suggested that newborn twins can have epigenetic markers that differ from each other?

They inherit identical markers from their parents.
Markers accumulate due to environmental influences.
Markers are strictly genetic and do not change.
All twins share the same epigenetic markers.

The correct answer is: Markers accumulate due to environmental influences.

Newborn twins can have differing epigenetic markers due to the influence of environmental factors on gene expression after they are conceived. Epigenetic markers are chemical modifications that can regulate how genes are turned on or off, and these markers can change in response to various stimuli, such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins. Although twins start with very similar genetic material, the environments in which they develop, even in utero, can impact their epigenetic profiles differently. This means that despite sharing a genetic background, individual life experiences and circumstances can lead to variations in epigenetic expression. Over time, as they grow and experience life, these differences in environmental exposure can be further pronounced, resulting in distinct epigenetic markers for each twin. This underscores the complex interaction between genetics and the environment in shaping phenotypes, which is essential for understanding concepts in genetics beyond just inheritance.