I think the analogy would be something like: DNA is the code. Epigenetics are config options which can be saved to a file and passed on. The cell is the machin

I think the analogy would be something like: DNA is the code. Epigenetics are config options which can be saved to a file and passed on. The cell is the machine which interprets the DNA + config options. So there are three pieces, and I don't think OP was talking about epigenetics.