The epigenetics of animal personality

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 150, С. 105194 - 105194

Опубликована: Апрель 23, 2023

Animal personality, consistent individual differences in behaviour, is an important concept for understanding how individuals vary they cope with environmental challenges. In order to understand the evolutionary significance of animal it crucial underlying regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation are hypothesised play a major role explaining variation phenotypic changes response alterations. Several characteristics also align well personality. this review paper, we summarise current literature on that molecular epigenetic mechanisms may have personality variation. We elaborate potential explain behavioural variation, development and temporal consistency behaviour. then suggest future routes emerging field point pitfalls be encountered. conclude more inclusive approach needed studying epigenetics cannot studied without considering genetic background.

Язык: Английский

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Potential Role of DNA Methylation as a Driver of Plastic Responses to the Environment Across Cells, Organisms, and Populations

Genome Biology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2024

Abstract There is great interest in exploring epigenetic modifications as drivers of adaptive organismal responses to environmental change. Extending this hypothesis populations, epigenetically driven plasticity could influence phenotypic changes across environments. The canonical model posits that alter gene regulation and subsequently impact phenotypes. We first discuss origins variation nature, which may arise from genetic variation, spontaneous epimutations, drift, or capacitors. then review synthesize literature addressing three facets the aforementioned model: (i) causal effects on at level, (ii) divergence patterns natural populations distributed gradients, (iii) relationship between environmentally induced expression molecular level. focus DNA methylation, most extensively studied modification. find support for associated structure selection stable variants, inhibition enzymes frequently bears plasticity. However, there are pervasive confounding issues literature. Effects chromatin-modifying phenotype be independent marks, alternatively resulting functions protein interactions extrinsic epigenetics. Associations methylation strong plants mammals but notably absent invertebrates nonmammalian vertebrates. Given these challenges, we describe emerging approaches better investigate how affect regulation, plasticity, among populations.

Язык: Английский

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Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 25, 2025

The evolutionary impact of epigenetic variation depends on its transgenerational stability and source - whether genetically determined, environmentally induced, or due to spontaneous, genotype-independent mutations. Here, we evaluate current approaches for investigating an independent role epigenetics in evolution, pinpointing methodological challenges. We further identify opportunities arising from integrating data with population genetic analyses natural populations. Efforts advance quality, study design, statistical treatment are encouraged consolidate our understanding the heritable variation, quantify autonomous potential enrich additional layer information.

Язык: Английский

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Variation in DNA Methylation in Avian Nestlings Is Largely Determined by Genetic Effects

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 40(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2023

Abstract As environmental fluctuations are becoming more common, organisms need to rapidly adapt anthropogenic, climatic, and ecological changes. Epigenetic modifications DNA methylation in particular provide with a mechanism shape their phenotypic responses during development. Studies suggest that environmentally induced might allow for adaptive plasticity could last throughout an organism's lifetime. Despite number of studies demonstrating changes, we know relatively little about what proportion the epigenome is affected by factors, rather than being consequence genetic variation. In current study, use partial cross-foster design natural great tit (Parus major) population disentangle effects common origin from rearing environment on methylation. We found variance 8,315 CpG sites was explained only 101 environment. Subsequently, mapped quantitative trait loci brood detected 754 cis 4,202 trans loci, involving 24% sites. Our results indicate scope marks independent genotype limited majority variation early life determined factors instead. These findings there may be opportunity selection act This implies most likely does not evolve independently genomic

Язык: Английский

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Early-life environmental effects on birds: epigenetics and microbiome as mechanisms underlying long-lasting phenotypic changes

Journal of Experimental Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 227(Suppl_1)

Опубликована: Март 7, 2024

ABSTRACT Although the long-lasting effects of variation in early-life environment have been well documented across organisms, underlying causal mechanisms are only recently starting to be unraveled. Yet understanding can help us predict how organisms will respond changing environments. Birds offer a great system which study developmental plasticity and its owing production large external eggs trajectories, combined with long tradition applied, physiological, ecological evolutionary research. Epigenetic changes (such as DNA methylation) suggested key mechanism mediating taxa. More recently, gut microbiome identified another potential mediator plasticity. As first step whether these contribute birds, this Review summarizes (both prenatal postnatal) influence epigenetic markers microbiome. The literature shows both biotic resources social environment) abiotic (thermal various anthropogenic stressors) factors modify yet data concerning many other environmental limited. links modifications lasting phenotypic still scarce, but hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis one putative pathway. This identifies several knowledge gaps, including on long-term effects, stability molecular changes, lack diversity systems studied, provides directions for future

Язык: Английский

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A Palearctic view of a bat fungal disease

Conservation Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 15, 2024

Abstract The fungal infection causing white‐nose disease in hibernating bats North America has resulted dramatic population declines of affected species, since the introduction causative agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans . fungus is native to Palearctic, where it also infects several bat yet rarely causes severe pathology or death host. during hibernation by invading and digesting skin tissue, resulting disruption torpor patterns consequent emaciation. Relations among pathogen, host, environment are complex, individuals, populations, species respond pathogen different ways. For example, Nearctic Myotis lucifugus responds mounting a robust immune response, leading immunopathology often contributing mortality. In contrast, Palearctic M. myotis shows no significant immunological response infection. This lack strong from long coevolution between hosts pathogen's range, likely contributes survival tolerant species. After more than 15 years initial America, some populations showing signs recovery, suggesting that fungus, hosts, both undergoing processes may eventually lead coexistence. suggested implemented management methods have encompassed, for use probiotics fungicides, vaccinations, modifying environmental conditions sites limit growth intensity infection, hosts’ responses it. Based on current knowledge Eurasia, policy makers conservation managers should refrain disrupting ongoing evolutionary adopt holistic approach managing epizootic.

Язык: Английский

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Associations between DNA methylation and gene regulation depend on chromatin accessibility during transgenerational plasticity

BMC Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 21(1)

Опубликована: Июнь 26, 2023

Abstract Background Epigenetic processes are proposed to be a mechanism regulating gene expression during phenotypic plasticity. However, environmentally induced changes in DNA methylation exhibit little-to-no association with differential metazoans at transcriptome-wide level. It remains unexplored whether associations between and contingent upon other epigenomic such as chromatin accessibility. We quantified larvae of the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus exposed different ecologically relevant conditions gametogenesis (maternal conditioning) modeled splicing resulting from maternal conditioning functions methylation, incorporating covariates for genomic features detected significant interactions accessibility, genic feature type associated splicing. Results Differential body had significantly stronger effects on among genes poorly accessible transcriptional start sites while baseline transcript abundance influenced direction this effect. Transcriptional responses were 4–13 × more likely when accounting demonstrating that relationship regulation is partially explained by state. Conclusions possesses multiple transgenerational plasticity S. potentially , but its dependent accessibility underlying features.

Язык: Английский

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DNA methylation markers of age(ing) in non‐model animals

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 32(17), С. 4725 - 4741

Опубликована: Июль 3, 2023

Inferring the chronological and biological age of individuals is fundamental to population ecology our understanding ageing itself, its evolution, processes that affect or even cause ageing. Epigenetic clocks based on DNA methylation (DNAm) at specific CpG sites show a strong correlation with in humans, discrepancies between inferred actual predict morbidity mortality. Recently, growing number epigenetic have been developed non-model animals we here review these studies. We also conduct meta-analysis assess effects different aspects experimental protocol performance for animals. Two measures are usually reported, R2 association predicted age, mean/median absolute deviation (MAD) estimated from argue only MAD reflects accuracy. HorvathMammalMethylChip4 was higher scaled range lower, compared other DNAm quantification approaches. Scaled tended be lower among captive populations, decreased an increasing sites. conclude can relatively high accuracy, suggesting great potential ecological epigenetics. discuss general hope stimulating further DNAm-based research ageing, perhaps more importantly, key traits.

Язык: Английский

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The Evolutionary Complexities of DNA Methylation in Animals: From Plasticity to Genetic Evolution

Genome Biology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 15(12)

Опубликована: Ноя. 28, 2023

Abstract The importance of DNA methylation in plastic responses to environmental change and evolutionary dynamics is increasingly recognized. Here, we provide a Perspective piece on the diverse roles broad timescales, including (i) short-term transient acclimation, (ii) stable phenotypic evolution, (iii) genomic evolution. We show that epigenetic vary along continuum, ranging from acclimatory variable environments within generation long-term modifications populations species. thus unlocks additional potential for organisms rapidly acclimate their environment over short timeframes. If these changes affect fitness, they can circumvent need adaptive at genome level. However, has complex reciprocal relationship with genetic variation as it be genetically controlled, yet also induce point mutations contribute When habitats remain constant many generations, or are separated across habitats, initially phenotypes become hardwired through epigenetically facilitated mutagenesis. It remains unclear under what circumstances plasticity contributes outcomes, when will permanently encoded into genotype. highlight how studies investigating evolution carefully consider state could evolve among different scenarios, possible its effects proximate energetic ultimate fitness costs methylation. argue accumulating evidence suggests toward various spanning continuum

Язык: Английский

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Early developmental carry‐over effects on exploratory behaviour and DNA methylation in wild great tits (Parus major)

Evolutionary Applications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 17(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2024

Abstract Adverse, postnatal conditions experienced during development are known to induce lingering effects on morphology, behaviour, reproduction and survival. Despite the importance of early developmental stress for shaping adult phenotype, it is largely unknown which molecular mechanisms allow induction maintenance such phenotypic once environmental released. Here we aimed investigate whether lasting changes associated with post‐developmental DNA methylation changes. We used a cross‐foster brood size experiment in great tit ( Parus major ) nestlings, induced post‐fledging biometric measures exploratory validated personality trait. investigated these levels CpG sites erythrocyte DNA. Individuals raised enlarged broods caught up their delay after reaching independence became more explorative as days since fledging passed, while scores individuals that were reduced remained stable. Although previously found enlargement hardly affected pre‐fledging levels, 420 differentially methylated between fledged small versus large sized broods. A considerable number located or near genes involved metabolism, growth, behaviour cognition. Since biological functions line observed size, our results suggest provides organisms opportunity modulate condition it. In conclusion, this study shows nutritional imposed by associates variation later life. propose treatment‐associated differences may arise relation pre‐ changes, rather than they directly environment development.

Язык: Английский

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