Epigenetic Induction in Drosophila (2024).
The most direct evidence comes from a 2024 study in Nature.
Researchers demonstrated that a temporary epigenetic disruption, without any genetic mutation, was sufficient to create stable, malignant tumors in fruit flies (Drosophila).
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How it worked: They transiently (temporarily) removed a key epigenetic regulator, a Polycomb group (PcG) protein. This removal scrambled the epigenetic "memory" of the cells.
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The result: Even after the epigenetic regulator was restored, the cells remained "locked" in a cancerous state and formed tumors. Genomic sequencing confirmed these tumors had no new DNA mutations compared to control cells.
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Conclusion: This study provided the first definitive proof that a transient epigenetic error can be the sole trigger for initiating and maintaining a cancerous state.
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