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PMID: 27156976 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

Genetic sources of population epigenomic variation.

Nature reviews. Genetics ·Vol. 17 ·No. 6 ·2016-00-00 ·Pages 319-32

Taudt A, Colomé-Tatché M, Johannes F

Abstract

The field of epigenomics has rapidly progressed from the study of individual reference epigenomes to surveying epigenomic variation in populations. Recent studies in a number of species, from yeast to humans, have begun to dissect the cis- and trans-regulatory genetic mechanisms that shape patterns of population epigenomic variation at the level of single epigenetic marks, as well as at the level of integrated chromatin state maps. We show that this information is paving the way towards a more complete understanding of the heritable basis underlying population epigenomic variation. We also highlight important conceptual challenges when interpreting results from these genetic studies, particularly in plants, in which epigenomic variation can be determined both by genetic and epigenetic inheritance.

MeSH Terms
Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics Epigenomics/methods Evolution, Molecular Genetic Variation/genetics Genetics, Population Humans Phenotype
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Taudt Aaron
Quantitative Epigenetics, European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen NL-9713 AV, The Netherlands.
Colomé-Tatché Maria
Quantitative Epigenetics, European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen NL-9713 AV, The Netherlands. | Institute for Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg 85764, Germany.
Johannes Frank
Population Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Strasse 2, Freising 85354, Germany. | Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstrasse 2a, Garching 85748, Germany.
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Article Info
Journal
Nature reviews. Genetics
Abbr.
Nat Rev Genet
ISSN
1471-0064
DOI
10.1038/nrg.2016.45
Published
2016-00-00
Epub
2016-00-09
Pages
319-32
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100962779
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2016.45 View journal details
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