Who Coined the Term Epigenetics?

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Conrad Waddington, born in 1905 and died in 1975, is credited with coining the term epigenetics. It literally means above genetics. Above meaning acting on genetics or even controlling our genetics. I think of it as the software that controls our genetics (hardware). Hardware needs to be activated in a particular sequence to produce programs. In the case of epigenetics I like to think of it as a volume control more than a switch. It is not only “turning on” our genetics but turning them on a little or a lot! Like a volume control on your iPod, it activates the sound but also controls how much of it we hear.

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