EPIGENETICS IN ORAL PATHOLOGY

Epigenetics is a major turn away from molecular biology. It helps us understand the biological phenotype that arises from the interaction of the human genome with the environment in health and in disease. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA interference have been shown to silence key genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and genome integrity, and clearly have a central role in oral cancer. Here, we describe the basics of epigenetics, its role in physiological and pathological events in oral cavity.