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Epigenetics and the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease#
Citation:
Rogers, J. Epigenetics and the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease#. Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, New Orleans, LA, September 26 - 30, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Epigenetic programming is likely to be an important mechanism underlying the lasting influence of the reproductive and developmental environment on lifelong health, a concept known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Environmental exposures including parental lifestyle and diet, smoking, obesity, stress and exposure to environmental pollutants can alter disease risk later in life. This talk will present an overview of epigenetic regulation and heritability, particularly as an essential component of embryo-fetal development and transgenerational effects of environmental exposures.
Description:
Epigenetic programming is likely to be an important mechanism underlying the lasting influence of the reproductive and developmental environment on lifelong health, a concept known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Environmental exposures including parental lifestyle and diet, smoking, obesity, stress and exposure to environmental pollutants can alter disease risk later in life. Molecular and physiological mechanisms of DOHaD are being elucidated, and effects on a number of organ and endocrine systems and metabolic pathways are likely involved. DNA methylation, posttranslational histone protein modifications, and noncoding RNAs are elements of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Germ cell specification and preimplantation development are periods of widespread erasure and reprogramming of DNA methylation, and prenatal and early postnatal development are thought to be sensitive periods to environmental effects on the epigenome. Epigenetic marks may be maintained throughout an individual’s lifespan and may confer increased risk of disease at points across the life course. Alteration of epigenetic marks by chemical and nonchemical stressors is an area of active research. This talk will present an overview of epigenetic regulation and heritability, particularly as an essential component of embryo-fetal development and transgenerational effects of environmental exposures.