Tansley insight DNA methylation inMarchantia polymorpha

MethylationofDNA is anepigeneticmechanism for thecontrol ofgeneexpression.Alterations in the regulatory pathways involved in the establishment, perpetuation and removal of DNA methylation can lead to severe developmental alterations.Our understandingof themechanistic aspects and relevance of DNA methylation comes from remarkable studies in well-established angiospermplantmodels includingmaize andArabidopsis. The study of plantmodels positioned at basal lineages opens exciting opportunities to expand our knowledge on the function and evolution of the components of DNAmethylation. In this Tansley Insight, we summarize current progress in our understanding of the molecular basis and relevance of DNA methylation in the liverwortMarchantia polymorpha.