Epigenetics for anthropologists: An introduction to methods
- PMID: 25711975
- DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22679
Epigenetics for anthropologists: An introduction to methods
Abstract
The study of epigenetics, or chemical modifications to the genome that may alter gene expression, is a growing area of interest for social scientists. Anthropologists and human biologists are interested in epigenetics specifically, as it provides a potential link between the environment and the genome, as well as a new layer of complexity for the study of human biological variation. In pace with the rapid increase in interest in epigenetic research, the range of methods has greatly expanded over the past decade. The primary objective of this article is to provide an overview of the current methods for assaying DNA methylation, the most commonly studied epigenetic modification. We will address considerations for all steps required to plan and conduct an analysis of DNA methylation, from appropriate sample collection, to the most commonly used methods for laboratory analyses of locus-specific and genome-wide approaches, and recommendations for statistical analyses. Key challenges in the study of DNA methylation are also discussed, including tissue specificity, the stability of measures, timing of sample collection, statistical considerations, batch effects, and challenges related to analysis and interpretation of data. Our hope is that this review serves as a primer for anthropologists and human biologists interested in incorporating epigenetic data into their research programs.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Similar articles
-
Assessing DNA methylation levels in animals: choosing the right tool for the job.Anim Genet. 2014 Aug;45 Suppl 1:15-24. doi: 10.1111/age.12186. Epub 2014 Jul 2. Anim Genet. 2014. PMID: 24990588 Review.
-
Measuring epigenetics as the mediator of gene/environment interactions in DOHaD.J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2015 Feb;6(1):10-6. doi: 10.1017/S2040174414000506. Epub 2014 Oct 15. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2015. PMID: 25315715 Review.
-
Clinical implications of epigenetic alterations in human thoracic malignancies: epigenetic alterations in lung cancer.Methods Mol Biol. 2012;863:221-39. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-612-8_13. Methods Mol Biol. 2012. PMID: 22359296 Review.
-
Genome-Wide Epigenetic Studies in Human Disease: A Primer on -Omic Technologies.Am J Epidemiol. 2016 Jan 15;183(2):96-109. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwv187. Epub 2015 Dec 30. Am J Epidemiol. 2016. PMID: 26721890 Free PMC article.
-
Next-generation technologies and data analytical approaches for epigenomics.Environ Mol Mutagen. 2014 Apr;55(3):155-70. doi: 10.1002/em.21841. Epub 2013 Dec 10. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2014. PMID: 24327356 Review.
Cited by
-
Global DNA Methylation Levels Viz-a-Viz Genetic and Biochemical Variations in One Carbon Metabolic Pathway: An Exploratory Study from North India.Biochem Genet. 2024 Feb 14. doi: 10.1007/s10528-023-10659-4. Online ahead of print. Biochem Genet. 2024. PMID: 38356009
-
What makes people grow? Love and hope.J Physiol Anthropol. 2023 Jul 13;42(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s40101-023-00330-7. J Physiol Anthropol. 2023. PMID: 37443075 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Epigenetic citizenship and political claims-making: the ethics of molecularizing structural racism.Biosocieties. 2022 Oct 19:1-24. doi: 10.1057/s41292-022-00286-4. Online ahead of print. Biosocieties. 2022. PMID: 36277423 Free PMC article.
-
Ecoimmunology in the field: Measuring multiple dimensions of immune function with minimally invasive, field-adapted techniques.Am J Hum Biol. 2022 Nov;34(11):e23784. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23784. Epub 2022 Jul 21. Am J Hum Biol. 2022. PMID: 35861267 Free PMC article. Review.
-
You Are What Your Mother Endured: Intergenerational Epigenetics, Early Caregiving, and the Temporal Embedding of Adversity.Med Anthropol Q. 2021 Dec;35(4):458-475. doi: 10.1111/maq.12683. Med Anthropol Q. 2021. PMID: 35066926 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous
