Epigenetic Clock in Bears: A Simple Cost‐Effective Blood DNA Methylation‐Based Age Estimation Method Applicable to Multiple Bear Species

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(5)

Published: May 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Age is an essential factor to understand the life history and demographic parameters of wildlife. Previously, we established age estimation method for brown bears based on blood DNA methylation level. In this study, first applied bear‐specific model other bear species, including Asian black, polar, sun, Andean bears. Using DNA, performed bisulfite pyrosequencing determine levels at four cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine (CpG) sites adjacent a single gene, SLC12A5 . The best specific estimated their ages with satisfactory accuracy, mean absolute error (MAE) 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 0.4 years black (52 samples from 16 captive 36 wild bears), polar (27 21 sun (11 8 (one bear), respectively. Then, common applicable species (i.e., pan‐bear model) using CpG sites. had high accuracy MAE 1.1 after leave‐one‐out cross‐validation (LOOCV). addition, achieved 1.3, 1.2, 2.2 LOOCV brown, bears, results suggested that aging marker (CpG ) simple, highly accurate, cost‐effective tool Ursidae.

Language: Английский

Approaching the mystery of aging by the epigenetic clock

Primates, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 65(5), P. 359 - 363

Published: Aug. 14, 2024

Language: Английский