Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
13:11
Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
Published on: July 12, 2012
Epigenetic mechanisms involved in developmental nutritional programming.
Anne Gabory1, Linda Attig, Claudine Junien
1Anne Gabory, Linda Attig, Claudine Junien, Developmental Biology and Reproduction, National Institute for Agronomic Research, National Veterinary school, National Center For Scientific Research, Jouy en Josas, France.
World Journal of Diabetes
|October 20, 2011
Summary
Epigenetic modifications can sustain early environmental impacts, influencing gene expression and health later in life. Recent research reveals complex epigenetic interactions and sexual dimorphism, though precise mechanisms remain elusive.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Environmental Health
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)
Background:
- Epigenetic modifications are crucial for fixing early environmental event effects, leading to sustained responses and altered phenotypes.
- Prevailing views on epigenetic mark dynamics, position, and function are being re-evaluated based on new discoveries.
- Environmental stressors' long-term effects on epigenetic marks have been studied globally and at individual gene levels in humans and animal models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recently discovered epigenetic mechanisms and challenge existing notions about epigenetic marks.
- To highlight the complexity of epigenetic processes, including crosstalk between different epigenetic marks.
- To explore the links between early nutrition, epigenetic processes, and long-term health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies utilizing high-throughput technologies in humans and mice.
- Analysis of research on the developmental origins of health and disease and metabolic programming.
- Examination of evidence for self-propagating epigenetic cycles and sexual dimorphism in epigenetic responses.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic processes involve complex crosstalk between different epigenetic marks.
- Early nutrition is linked to epigenetic changes and long-term illness.
- A self-propagating epigenetic cycle exists, with notable sexual dimorphism in programming and response.
Conclusions:
- Despite progress, understanding how environmental stressors impact epigenetic mechanisms remains a challenge.
- Identifying original key epigenetic marks and their changes across lifetimes and generations is an ongoing issue.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the intricate relationship between environment, epigenetics, and long-term health.
Related Concept Videos
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.
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
01:24Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for injury repair.
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
01:29Somatic to iPS Cell Reprogramming
Reprogramming alters the gene expression in somatic cells, transforming them into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells over several generations. Scientists can reprogram cells by introducing genes for four transcription factors—Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) by viral or non-viral methods. These factors are also known as Yamanaka factors after Shinya Yamanaka, who first generated iPS cells using mouse skin cells. Yamanaka was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this...