The rapidly growing field of epigenetics is now beginning to reveal how our genes are affected by environmental factors such as nutrition, exercise and stress. As it has such profound effects on our everyday lives, this article argues for the inclusion of epigenetics in the compulsory school science curriculum, and explores trainee science teachers' knowledge about epigenetics and their views on its implications for society. A minority of trainee science teachers surveyed were familiar with the term, but with further discussion they were readily able to engage with social, ethical and health promotion implications relating to epigenetics.