DNA Methylation Associates With Sex-Specific Effects of Experimentally Increased Yolk Testosterone in Wild Nestlings.

ABSTRACT: Maternal hormones can profoundly impact offspring physiology and behaviour in sex-dependent ways. Yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms linking these maternal effects to offspring phenotypes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, is suggested to facilitate maternal androgens' effects. To assess whether phenotypic changes induced by maternal androgens associate with DNA methylation changes, we experimentally manipulated yolk testosterone levels in wild great tit eggs (Parus major) and quantified phenotypic and DNA methylation changes in the hatched offspring. While we found no effect on the handing stress response, increased yolk testosterone levels decreased the begging probability, emphasised sex differences in fledging mass, and affected methylation at 763 CpG sites, but

SUBMITTER: Sepers B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11789551 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature