An ecologist’s guide for studying DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates
Laine, V. N., Sepers, B., Lindner, M., Gawehns, F., Ruuskanen, S., & Oers, K. (2023). An ecologist’s guide for studying DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates. Molecular Ecology Resources, 23(7), 1488-1508. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13624
Published in
Molecular Ecology ResourcesAuthors
Date
2023Copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Molecular Ecology Resources published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The field of molecular biology is advancing fast with new powerful technologies, sequencing methods and analysis software being developed constantly. Commonly used tools originally developed for research on humans and model species are now regularly used in ecological and evolutionary research. There is also a growing interest in the causes and consequences of epigenetic variation in natural populations. Studying ecological epigenetics is currently challenging, especially for vertebrate systems, because of the required technical expertise, complications with analyses and interpretation, and limitations in acquiring sufficiently high sample sizes. Importantly, neglecting the limitations of the experimental setup, technology and analyses may affect the reliability and reproducibility, and the extent to which unbiased conclusions can be drawn from these studies. Here, we provide a practical guide for researchers aiming to study DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates. We review the technical aspects of epigenetic research, concentrating on DNA methylation using bisulfite sequencing, discuss the limitations and possible pitfalls and how to overcome them through rigid and reproducible data analysis. This review provides a solid foundation for the proper design of epigenetic studies, a clear roadmap on the best practices for correct data analysis and a realistic view on the limitations for studying ecological epigenetics in vertebrates. This review will help researchers studying the ecological and evolutionary implications of epigenetic variation in wild populations.
...
Publisher
Wiley-BlackwellISSN Search the Publication Forum
1755-098XKeywords
Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/118907237
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
License
Related items
Showing items with similar title or keywords.
-
DNA Methylation and Potential for Epigenetic Regulation in Pygospio elegans
Kesäniemi, Jenni; Heikkinen, Liisa; Knott, Emily (Public Library of Science, 2016)Transitions in developmental mode are common evolutionarily, but how and why they occur is not understood. Developmental mode describes larval phenotypes, including morphology, ecology and behavior of larvae, which typically ... -
Does Arsenic Contamination Affect DNA Methylation Patterns in a Wild Bird Population? : An Experimental Approach
Laine, Veronika N.; Verschuuren, Mark; van Oers, Kees; Espín, Silvia; Sánchez-Virosta, Pablo; Eeva, Tapio; Ruuskanen, Suvi (American Chemical Society (ACS), 2021)Pollutants, such as toxic metals, negatively influence organismal health and performance, even leading to population collapses. Studies in model organisms have shown that epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, can be ... -
The effect of experimental lead pollution on DNA methylation in a wild bird population
Mäkinen, Hannu; van Oers, Kees; Eeva, Tapio; Ruuskanen, Suvi (Taylor & Francis, 2022)Anthropogenic pollution is known to negatively influence an organism’s physiology, behaviour, and fitness. Epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, has been hypothesized as a potential mechanism to mediate such ... -
From maternal glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones to epigenetic regulation of offspring gene expression : An experimental study in a wild bird species
Hukkanen, Mikaela; Hsu, Bin‐Yan; Cossin‐Sevrin, Nina; Crombecque, Mélanie; Delaunay, Axelle; Hollmen, Lotta; Kaukonen, Riina; Konki, Mikko; Lund, Riikka; Marciau, Coline; Stier, Antoine; Ruuskanen, Suvi (Wiley, 2023)Offspring phenotype at birth is determined by its genotype and the prenatal environment including exposure to maternal hormones. Variation in both maternal glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones can affect offspring phenotype, ... -
Leisure-Time and Occupational Physical Activity Associates Differently with Epigenetic Aging
Kankaanpää, Anna; Tolvanen, Asko; Bollepalli, Sailalitha; Leskinen, Tuija; Kujala, Urho M.; Kaprio, Jaakko; Ollikainen, Miina; Sillanpää, Elina (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2021)Purpose: Greater leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) associates with healthier lives, but knowledge regarding occupational physical activity (OPA) is more inconsistent. DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns capture age-related ...