Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:09
Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
Environmental epigenomics and disease susceptibility.
Randy L Jirtle1, Michael K Skinner
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. jirtle@radonc.duke.edu
Nature Reviews. Genetics
|March 17, 2007
Summary
Environmental exposures during development can influence disease susceptibility and be passed across generations. Epigenetic modifications offer a mechanism for these heritable, environmentally induced changes, impacting phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental epigenetics
- Developmental biology
- Transgenerational inheritance
Background:
- Epidemiological studies link early-life environmental exposures to later-life disease susceptibility.
- Evidence suggests some environmental effects on health can be transmitted across generations.
- Epigenetic modifications are a key mechanism connecting environmental factors to gene expression and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of environmental epigenetics in disease susceptibility.
- To investigate the potential for environmentally induced epigenetic changes to be heritable and affect subsequent generations.
- To highlight emerging methods for studying these phenomena in human disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological evidence.
- Analysis of findings from animal studies on environmental epigenetics.
- Examination of recent studies demonstrating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Main Results:
- Environmental exposures early in development are increasingly linked to disease susceptibility.
- Epigenetic modifications provide a plausible mechanism for environmental influences on gene expression.
- Animal studies support the role of environmental epigenetics in disease.
- Recent research confirms heritable, environmentally induced epigenetic modifications can alter phenotypes across generations.
Conclusions:
- Environmental epigenetics plays a significant role in disease susceptibility.
- Heritable epigenetic changes induced by environmental factors can lead to transgenerational alterations in phenotype.
- New methodologies are enabling the investigation of these effects in human populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
01:29Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...