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Epigenetic regulation in early embryogenesis: mechanisms, developmental programming, and transgenerational
Igbayilola Yusuff Dimeji1,2, Musafau Oloyede Sanni3, Kasim Sakran Abass4
1Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun, Nigeria.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Epigenetics, heritable gene expression changes, are crucial for development and disease. Early life environmental exposures can disrupt these epigenetic processes, increasing lifelong disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Epigenetics involves heritable gene expression changes without altering DNA sequence, crucial for cell fate and disease susceptibility.
- Early embryonic development is a sensitive period where environmental factors can impact epigenetic reprogramming.
- The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis highlights early life as critical for lifelong health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of epigenetics in early embryonic development.
- To discuss how environmental factors disrupt epigenetic reprogramming during critical developmental windows.
- To explore the long-term health consequences of disrupted early-life epigenetics.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent advances in low-input and single-cell sequencing technologies.
- Analysis of experimental studies and human data related to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on epigenetic reprogramming and its control during early development.
Main Results:
- Early embryonic epigenomes are highly dynamic, with extensive reprogramming events.
- Adverse environmental conditions during fetal development can disrupt epigenetic reprogramming.
- Disrupted epigenetics in early development are linked to increased risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic mechanisms are central to embryonic development and disease regulation.
- Early development represents a critical window for epigenetic programming, influencing lifelong health.
- Further research is needed to understand epigenetic marks that escape erasure during embryonal reprogramming.
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.
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...
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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.
01:10Transcription
Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...