Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

4.0K
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...
4.0K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

34.0K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
34.0K
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

1.3K
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...
1.3K
Mutations01:35

Mutations

44.8K
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
44.8K
Mutations01:39

Mutations

95.0K
Overview
95.0K
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences01:28

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

371
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
371

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Trauma-Exposed Adolescents Show Reduced Cortical Glutamate Modulation during Inhibitory Control with Negative Emotional Stimuli.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Shared and specific associations of amygdala nuclei volumes with PTSD symptom domains and childhood trauma: An ENIGMA-PGC PTSD mega-analysis.

Molecular psychiatry·2026
Same author

Post-traumatic stress disorder moderates the association between BrainAge acceleration and GrimAge acceleration.

Neurobiology of aging·2026
Same author

Social support and post-traumatic stress symptoms: Longitudinal bidirectional relationships in the AURORA study.

Journal of mood and anxiety disorders·2026
Same author

Epigenome-Wide DNA Methylation Levels During Pregnancy: Associations with Parity Across Diverse Populations.

Epigenomes·2026
Same author

Associations between residential segregation, ambient air pollution, and hippocampal features in recent trauma survivors.

Translational psychiatry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
11:31

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting

Published on: November 30, 2015

16.9K

Exposure to Violence Accelerates Epigenetic Aging in Children.

Tanja Jovanovic1, L Alexander Vance2, Dorthie Cross2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 101 Woodruff Circle NE (Clifton RD NE), Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. tjovano@emory.edu.

Scientific Reports
|August 23, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Childhood violence exposure is linked to epigenetic age acceleration, a biological marker of aging. This accelerated aging, measured via DNA methylation in saliva, was associated with increased violence exposure and lower heart rates in children.

More Related Videos

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
13:11

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

Published on: July 12, 2012

19.4K
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
07:06

Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice

Published on: January 24, 2025

1.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
11:31

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting

Published on: November 30, 2015

16.9K
Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
13:11

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

Published on: July 12, 2012

19.4K
Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice
07:06

Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Early Adolescent Male Mice

Published on: January 24, 2025

1.7K

Area of Science:

  • Epigenetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Epigenetic processes, like DNA methylation, are reliable indicators of biological age.
  • DNA methylation patterns form an 'epigenetic clock' that can predict chronological age and identify age acceleration.
  • Age acceleration, where epigenetic age outpaces chronological age, is linked to increased mortality risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate epigenetic age acceleration in children (ages 6-13) exposed to neighborhood violence.
  • To examine the association between direct violence exposure, heart rate during stress, and epigenetic aging in children.
  • To determine if DNA methylation in saliva can serve as a biomarker for the impact of violence on children's biological aging.

Main Methods:

  • Saliva samples were collected from 101 children aged 6-13.
  • Epigenetic age acceleration was assessed using DNA methylation patterns.
  • Children's exposure to neighborhood violence and heart rate during a stressful task were measured.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic age acceleration was significantly associated with direct experience of violence (p=0.004).
  • Age acceleration correlated with decreased heart rate during a stressful task (p=0.002).
  • Children with accelerated epigenetic aging reported twice the violence exposure and exhibited adult-like heart rates.

Conclusions:

  • Direct violence exposure in childhood is linked to accelerated epigenetic aging.
  • DNA methylation in children's saliva may reflect the biological impact of early-life adversity.
  • These findings suggest DNA methylation is a potential biological mechanism linking childhood violence to long-term health outcomes.