The Use of Animals Models to Advance Epigenetic Science

摘要

Changes in the epigenome induced by the environment have been documented in diverse animal phyla, ranging from insects to rodents to humans. These include chromatin remodeling, histone tail modifications, and DNA methylation, and more recently the list has expanded to encompass noncoding RNA and microRNA gene regulation (Matzke and Birchler 2005). Thus, it is increasingly recognized that exposure to chemical, nutritional, behavioral, and physical factors alters gene expression and affects health anddisease not only through mutation of but also through modification of the epigenome. Moreover, such exposures have been directly linked with subsequent disease formation through deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms. Unlike genetic mutations, these epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, providing a unique avenue to improve human health. Consequently research in epigenetics has increased dramatically in the last few years (Figure 1).