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Social regulation of human gene expression
1Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine, Cousins Center for PNI, UCLA AIDS Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, and the HopeLab Foundation.
Current Directions in Psychological Science
|January 19, 2011
Summary
Genes influence social behavior, but social environments can also alter gene expression. Social genomics explores how social factors regulate genes and how genetic variations impact these influences.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Social Neuroscience
- Behavioral Genetics
Background:
- Historically, gene-environment interactions were viewed as unidirectional, with genes dictating traits.
- Emerging research indicates that social environments can significantly impact gene expression in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional relationship between genes and social behavior.
- To identify genes regulated by social factors and the underlying biological pathways.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human gene expression patterns in response to diverse socio-environmental conditions.
- Identification of specific genes, signaling pathways, and genetic polymorphisms involved in social regulation of gene expression.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that socio-environmental conditions induce broad alterations in human gene expression.
- Identified key genes and biological pathways mediating social influences on genetic activity.
- Found that genetic polymorphisms modulate the impact of social environments on gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Gene-environment interactions are dynamic and bidirectional, particularly in social behavior.
- Social genomics provides a framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying social influences on the genome.
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