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Exploring Epigenetic and Genetic Modulation in Animal Responses to Thermal Stress
Wang Jianfang1, Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza1,2,3, Sameer D Pant4
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
Molecular Biotechnology
|March 26, 2024
Summary
Global warming causes thermal stress in livestock, impacting their health and productivity. Epigenetic and genetic changes help animals adapt and can be passed to offspring.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Global warming is significantly altering climate patterns worldwide.
- Rising global temperatures lead to thermal stress in livestock, affecting their health, reproduction, and productivity.
- Thermal stress poses significant challenges to livestock enterprises and animal welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms animals use to respond to thermal stress.
- To explore how thermal stress influences animal health, productivity, and welfare.
- To understand the role of epigenetic modifications in transgenerational adaptation to thermal stress.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on genetic and epigenetic responses to thermal stress.
- Analysis of studies on heat shock proteins (HSPs), histone modifications, and DNA methylation.
- Examination of evidence for intergenerational epigenetic inheritance of thermal stress effects.
Main Results:
- Animals possess diverse physiological, epigenetic, and genetic mechanisms to cope with thermal stress.
- Thermal stress can alter animal health, immune function, and metabolic pathways, impacting productivity.
- Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and histone alterations, can mediate adaptive responses and be transmitted across generations.
Conclusions:
- Genetic and epigenetic factors play a crucial role in animal adaptation to thermal stress.
- Epigenetic modifications can lead to transgenerational effects, influencing offspring phenotypes and productivity.
- Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on livestock.
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