Epigenetic marks can be heritable during cell division15 but do not alter DNA sequence. Depending on the situation, they are potentially more important than genetic sequence variants in determining when, where, and how much a specific gene will be expressed during development. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) have been applied to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms of diseases including AUDs. EWAS-identified epigenetic changes can be exploited clinically as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of AUDs and other diseases.
