[pfisherman]

Epigenetics is not just DNA, think of it more like the (hidden) state of DNA. Histone modifications and open chromatin and other epigenetic readouts are like emissions / indicators of the hidden state.

The relationship is like that between the words in a book and the page that is actively being read. I know that is a hackneyed analogy; but coffee is wearing off :)

[dekhn]

Those are all readable using standard DNA sequencing techniques, so again, it's just state attributes of the DNA.

(I've worked in genomics for 30+ years. I'm not just spitballing here).

[pfisherman]

DNA libraries are read out using sequencing techniques. But I doubt anyone would say they are just measuring DNA. It’s kind of like saying a luciferase based assay is just measuring the intensity of light.

[dekhn]

yes, that is the terminology we use.