Definition
DNA is the sequence of nucleotides encoding potential proteins. Gene expression is the process by which specific genes are read and used at specific times in specific cells. Epigenetics regulates the latter, not the former.
Why it matters
Confusing DNA and gene expression underlies most of the confused claims about epigenetics. Precision matters.
The Science
A single cell contains the entire genome but expresses only a small fraction of its genes at any moment. Epigenetic marks help determine which genes are used, when, and to what degree.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats the DNA/expression distinction as basic biological literacy — worth teaching, not glossing.
Clinical Implications
Clinical framings that conflate "having a gene" with "expressing that gene at pathological levels" produce confused patient conversations.
Practical Application
Having a gene and using a gene are different things. Most of what matters is how your body uses what it has.
References
- 1.Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 6th ed. Garland Science; 2014.