Inheritance of epigenetic information:
Alteration in DNA methylation comes under epigenetic changes. They have been considered a major cause of cancer. DNA methylation unlike mutation is reversible. Demethylation is removal of methyl group from the DNA.
Demethylating of DNA activate the expression of corresponding genes. This can be used to cure cancer if tumor-suppressor genes would be demethylated. This will turn on expression of these genes; hence suppress the growth and proliferation of cells, while demethylation of proto-oncogenes would lead to their activation. Thus, would enhance the threat to cancer.
The inheritance of chromatin structure is thought to be responsible, for the inheritance of epigenetic information. This is due to the inheritance of the histone code and may also include inheritance of DNA methylation patterns.