Reprogramming of genome function through epigenetic inheritance

Most cells contain the same set of genes and yet they are extremely diverse in appearance and functions. It is the selective expression and repression of genes that determines the specific properties of individual cells. Neve rtheless, even when fully differentiated, any cell can potentially be repro grammed back to totipotency, which in turn results in re-differentiation of the full repertoire of adult cells from a single original cell of any kind . Mechanisms that regulate this exceptional genomic plasticity and the stat e of totipotency are being unravelled, and will enhance our ability to mani pulate stem cells for therapeutic purposes.