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Many organisms have evolved dosage compensation mechanisms to normalize gene expression levels when copy numbers of sex chromosomes and autosomes are unequal. This Review discusses how multiple epigenetic processes fine-tune the twofold upregulation of gene expression across the entire male X chromosome ofDrosophila melanogaster.
Computer simulations can be valuable components of studies in many fields, including population genetics, evolutionary biology, genetic epidemiology and ecology. The recent increase in the available range of software packages is now making simulation an accessible option for researchers with limited bioinformatics experience.
There is considerable interest in exploring whether environmental factors, including chemicals and dietary components, can alter epigenomes. Environmentally induced changes in epigenetic marks are important in the development of several species, such as plants and insects; whether they influence human disease will be an area for future research.