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The Role of Epigenomics in Aquatic Toxicology
Author(s) -
Brander Susanne M.,
Biales Adam D.,
Con Richard E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.3930
Subject(s) - epigenetics , organism , transgenerational epigenetics , stressor , biology , population , epigenomics , inheritance (genetic algorithm) , environmental toxicology , model organism , ecology , evolutionary biology , genetics , neuroscience , dna methylation , medicine , environmental health , toxicity , gene expression , gene
Over the past decade, the field of molecular biology has rapidly incorporated epigenetic studies to evaluate organism–environment interactions that can result in chronic effects. Such responses arise from early life stage stress, the utilization of genetic information over an individual's life time, and transgenerational inheritance. Knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms provides the potential for a comprehensive evaluation of multigenerational and heritable effects from environmental stressors, such as contaminants. Focused studies have provided a greater understanding of how many responses to environmental stressors are driven by epigenetic modifiers. We discuss the promise of epigenetics and suggest future research directions within the field of aquatic toxicology, with a particular focus on the potential for identifying key heritable marks with consequential impacts at the organism and population levels. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2565–2573. © 2017 SETAC