DNA methylation signatures of early life adversity are exposure-dependent in wild baboons.

ABSTRACT: The early life environment can profoundly shape the trajectory of an animal's life, even years or decades later. One mechanism proposed to contribute to these early life effects is DNA methylation. However, the frequency and functional importance of DNA methylation in shaping early life effects on adult outcomes is poorly understood, especially in natural populations. Here, we integrate prospectively collected data on fitness-associated variation in the early environment with DNA methylation estimates at 477,270 CpG sites in 256 wild baboons. We find highly heterogeneous relationships between the early life environment and DNA methylation in adulthood: aspects of the environment linked to resource limitation (e.g., low-quality habitat, early life drought) are associated with many more CpG

SUBMITTER: Anderson JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10274726 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature