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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Epigenomics. 2012 Aug;4(4):383–402. doi: 10.2217/epi.12.31

Figure 2. Relationship between epigenetic state, disease threshold and environment.

Figure 2

Individual A represents a reference pattern, wherein the epigenome changes at a given rate throughout life and reaches a threshold to elicit a disease or disorder. Individual B experienced an acute early-life exposure that resulted in a parallel path of change, but reaching the threshold earlier than individual A. Individual C experienced a change in environment that increased the rate of change. Individual D began life at a different epigenetic state (this could be higher or lower) and then progressed in parallel with individual A. Individual E experienced a change in environment that lessened the pace of acquiring epigenetic change, such as an improvement in environment. Individual F experienced an acute drop in epigenetic change, perhaps as a result of a sudden improvement of environment, and then progressed in parallel with individual A.