Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic 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...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene-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...

Histone Modification

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...

Histone Modification

Histone Modification

The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Genetic and epigenetic transgenerational implications related to omega-3 fatty acids. Part II: maternal FADS2 rs174575 genotype and DNA methylation predict toddler cognitive performance.

Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)·2015

Same author

Genetic and epigenetic transgenerational implications related to omega-3 fatty acids. Part I: maternal FADS2 genotype and DNA methylation correlate with polyunsaturated fatty acid status in toddlers: an exploratory analysis.

Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)·2015

Same author

Challenges in nutrition-related DNA methylation studies.

Biomolecular concepts·2014

Same author

Perinatal α-linolenic acid availability alters the expression of genes related to memory and to epigenetic machinery, and the Mecp2 DNA methylation in the whole brain of mouse offspring.

International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·2014

Same author

Identification of new genetic polymorphisms that alter the dietary requirement for choline and vary in their distribution across ethnic and racial groups.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·2014

Same author

Conceptual shifts needed to understand the dynamic interactions of genes, environment, epigenetics, social processes, and behavioral choices.

American journal of public health·2013

Same journal

Laboratory Codes in Nomenclature and Scientific Communication (Advancing Organism Nomenclature in Scientific Communication to Improve Research Reporting and Reproducibility).

ILAR journal·2022

Same journal

History of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Institute for Laboratory Animal Research.

ILAR journal·2022

Same journal

History of the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science.

ILAR journal·2022

Same journal

International Standardized Nomenclature for Outbred Stocks of Laboratory Animals.

ILAR journal·2022

Same journal

Rapid Response by Laboratory Animal Research Institutions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Key Lessons Learned From a 2021 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Workshop.

ILAR journal·2022

Same journal

Beyond the Laboratory: Emerging Landscape of Animal Studies - the Influence of National Academies of Sciences Activities and Publications.

ILAR journal·2022

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

Nutritional epigenetics.

Mihai D Niculescu¹

¹Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina 28081, USA. Mihai_Niculescu@unc.edu

|June 8, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The mouse model is valuable for nutrition and epigenetics research due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, careful interpretation of results is crucial, considering species-specific epigenetic differences and limitations in transgenerational inheritance studies.

More Related Videos

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Published on: January 2, 2009

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Sample Preparation to Bioinformatics Analysis of DNA Methylation: Association Strategy for Obesity and Related Trait Studies

Published on: May 6, 2022

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation

Published on: January 2, 2009

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

Area of Science:

Epigenetics and Gene Expression
Nutritional Science
Comparative Genomics

Background:

Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression influenced by gene-environment interactions.
Nutrition is a significant environmental factor inducing epigenetic changes, potentially with transgenerational inheritance.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the utility of the mouse model for nutrition-related epigenetic studies.
To identify the limitations of the mouse model when compared to human epigenetic phenomena.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on mouse models in nutrition and epigenetics research.
Comparative analysis of epigenetic mechanisms between mice and humans.

Main Results:

Mice offer advantages including short lifespan, cost-efficiency, available genetic lines, and genomic data.
Metabolic processes in mice show relative similarity to humans, supporting their use as a model.
Limitations include chromosomal gene location differences, distinct embryogenesis epigenetic patterns, and telomere-associated senescence variations.

Conclusions:

The mouse model is a versatile tool for studying nutrition and epigenetics, offering practical advantages.
Results from mouse studies require careful interpretation due to inherent biological differences compared to humans.
Consideration of species-specific epigenetic variations is essential for accurate translation of findings.