The success of social insects is governed by remarkable levels of phenotypic plasticity displayed by colony members which is mediated by epigenetic inheritance. Waddington originally defined epigenetics as the study of the mechanisms that led to the development of a particular phenotype from a given genotype. Social insects have been primary model systems used for understanding the importance of insect DNA methylation. Epigenetic states are initiated by some type of environmental stimulus. DNA methylation is recognized as an important chromatin modification providing structural integrity and proper regulation of the genome for many species. | Epigenetic control of sociality through DNA Methylation
