Year: 2015
Type: review
Abstract: A fundamental initiative for evolutionary biologists is to understand the molecular basis underlying phenotypic diversity. A long-standing hypothesis states that species-specific traits may be explained by differences in gene regulation rather than differences at the protein level. Over the past few years, evolutionary studies have shifted from mere sequence comparisons to integrative analyses in which gene regulation is key to understanding species evolution. DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification involved in the regulation of numerous biological processes. Nevertheless, the evolution of the human methylome and the processes driving such changes are poorly understood. Here, we review the close interplay between Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) methylation and the underlying genome sequence, as well as its evolutionary impact. We also summarize the latest advances in the field, revisiting the main literature on human and nonhuman primates. We hope to encourage the scientific community to address the many challenges posed by the field of comparative epigenomics.
Source: PLoS Genetics
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,043
Funders: March of Dimes Foundation, Generalitat de Catalunya, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, National Institutes of Health, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Human Genome Research Institute, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1897028744, G2507953404, Multigenerational Epigenetic Effects of Cannabis Exposure, G2957638906, G4734419841, Genome-wide analyses of parent of origin effects in three human disea, Comprehensive identification of parent of origin effects in human and mouse, Epigenetic Determinants of Major Depression: a Monozygotic Discordant TwinStudy, G8749328333, G9000213694
OpenAlex ID: W2192647662