DNA methylation associates with sex-specific effects of experimentally increased yolk testosterone in wild nestlings DOI Creative Commons
Bernice Sepers, Suvi Ruuskanen, Tjomme van Mastrigt

et al.

Published: Aug. 12, 2024

Abstract Maternal hormones can profoundly impact offspring physiology and behaviour in sex-dependent ways. Yet little is known on the molecular mechanisms linking these maternal effects to phenotypes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, suggested facilitate androgens’ effects. To assess whether phenotypic changes induced by androgens associate with methylation changes, we experimentally manipulated yolk testosterone levels wild great tit eggs ( Parus major ) quantified hatched offspring. Increased decreased begging probability, emphasised sex-differences fledging mass affected at 763 CpG sites, but always a sex-specific way. These sites associated genes involved growth, oxidative stress reproduction, suggesting trade-offs balance costs benefits of exposure high levels. Future studies should if extend beyond nestling stage fitness.

Language: Английский

DNA Methylation Associates With Sex‐Specific Effects of Experimentally Increased Yolk Testosterone in Wild Nestlings DOI Creative Commons
Bernice Sepers, Suvi Ruuskanen, Tjomme van Mastrigt

et al.

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

ABSTRACT Maternal hormones can profoundly impact offspring physiology and behaviour in sex‐dependent ways. Yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms linking these maternal effects to phenotypes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, suggested facilitate androgens' effects. To assess whether phenotypic changes induced by androgens associate with methylation changes, we experimentally manipulated yolk testosterone levels wild great tit eggs ( Parus major ) quantified hatched offspring. While found no effect on handing stress response, increased decreased begging probability, emphasised sex differences fledging mass, affected at 763 CpG sites, but always a sex‐specific way. These sites are associated genes involved growth, oxidative stress, reproduction, suggesting trade‐offs balance costs benefits of exposure high levels. Future studies should if extend beyond nestling stage fitness.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Epigenetic Diversity and the Evolutionary Potential of Wild Populations DOI Creative Commons
Miguel Baltazar‐Soares, Alice Balard, Melanie J. Heckwolf

et al.

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Fast‐paced selective pressures imposed by climate change and anthropogenic activities call for adaptive evolutionary responses to emerge at ecological timescales. However, the evolution heritability of genomic variation underlie mechanistic constraints, which dictate a slower pace adaptation exclusively relying on standing genetic novel mutations. Environmentally responsive epigenetic mechanisms can allow acclimatisation phenotypes arise faster than DNA sequence‐based alone. Nevertheless, knowledge gap between identifying marks effectively deeming them functional is still wide in natural context often outside scope model organisms. With this Special Issue, we aimed narrow presenting compilation original research articles, reviews opinions topic epigenetics wild populations. We contextualised collection within overarching conservation biology, as firmly propose that significantly enhance effectiveness measures. Contributions highlighted putative role potential species populations directly indirectly affected climatic shifts actions. They further exemplified how be used biomarkers monitoring variations physiology, phenology behaviour. Lastly, perspective articles illustrated past present while suggesting future avenues.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
DNA methylation associates with sex-specific effects of experimentally increased yolk testosterone in wild nestlings DOI Creative Commons
Bernice Sepers, Suvi Ruuskanen, Tjomme van Mastrigt

et al.

Published: Aug. 12, 2024

Abstract Maternal hormones can profoundly impact offspring physiology and behaviour in sex-dependent ways. Yet little is known on the molecular mechanisms linking these maternal effects to phenotypes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, suggested facilitate androgens’ effects. To assess whether phenotypic changes induced by androgens associate with methylation changes, we experimentally manipulated yolk testosterone levels wild great tit eggs ( Parus major ) quantified hatched offspring. Increased decreased begging probability, emphasised sex-differences fledging mass affected at 763 CpG sites, but always a sex-specific way. These sites associated genes involved growth, oxidative stress reproduction, suggesting trade-offs balance costs benefits of exposure high levels. Future studies should if extend beyond nestling stage fitness.

Language: Английский

Citations

0