Biology
DNA Methylation Patterns in Cancer Epigenetics
Quick fact
In cancer, tumor suppressor genes like p16 and BRCA1 are often silenced by hypermethylation, acting like a 'molecular switch' that turns them off without any mutation.
Why this is interesting
Every cell in your body has the same DNA, yet a liver cell and a neuron look and act completely differently. So how can cancer hijack this system to switch genes on and off at will?