Biological embedding of experience: A primer on epigenetics

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Maria J. Aristizabal, University of Toronto; Ina Anreiter, University of Toronto; Thorhildur Halldorsdottir, University of Iceland; Candice L. Odgers, MaRS Centre; Thomas W. McDade, MaRS Centre; Anna Goldenberg, MaRS Centre; Sara Mostafavi, MaRS Centre; Michael S. Kobor, University of British Columbia; Elisabeth Binder, Emory University; Marla B. Sokolowski, University of Toronto; Kieran J. O'Donnell, MaRS Centre
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-09-22
• Publisher: NATL ACAD SCIENCES
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: Published under the PNAS license
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820838116
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• Volume: 117
• Issue: 38
• Start Page: 23261
• End Page: 23269
• Grant/Funding Information: A.G., C.L.O., E.B.B., M.S.K., M.B.S., S.M., and T.W.M. are fellows in the CBD Program. M.J.A. is supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellowship. K.J.O. is a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar in the CBD Program. M.B.S. is a CIFAR Weston Fellow.
• Keywords: LONG NONCODING RNAS; CHROMATIN; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; Science & Technology - Other Topics; MENTAL-HEALTH; LIFE STRESS; POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER; GENOME; biological embedding of experience; translational research; epigenetic mechanisms; epigenome; gene-environment interplay; MATERNAL-CARE; DNA METHYLATION; Science & Technology; MECHANISMS; Multidisciplinary Sciences
• Research Categories: Biology, Genetics; Psychology, Cognitive; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Biological embedding occurs when life experience alters biological processes to affect later life health and well-being. Although extensive correlative data exist supporting the notion that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation underlie biological embedding, causal data are lacking. We describe specific epigenetic mechanisms and their potential roles in the biological embedding of experience. We also consider the nuanced relationships between the genome, the epigenome, and gene expression. Our ability to connect biological embedding to the epigenetic landscape in its complexity is challenging and complicated by the influence of multiple factors. These include cell type, age, the timing of experience, sex, and DNA sequence. Recent advances in molecular profiling and epigenome editing, combined with the use of comparative animal and human longitudinal studies, should enable this field to transition from correlative to causal analyses.