Racial differences in gene-specific DNA methylation levels are present at birth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA methylation patterns differ among children and adults and play an unambiguous role in several disease processes, particularly cancers. The origin of these differences is inadequately understood, and this is a question of specific relevance to childhood and adult cancer.

Methods

DNA methylation levels at 26,485 autosomal CpGs were assayed in 201 newborns (107 African American and 94 Caucasian). Nonparametric analyses were performed to examine the relation between these methylation levels and maternal parity, maternal age, newborn gestational age, newborn gender, and newborn race. To identify the possible influences of confounding, stratification was performed by a second and third variable. For genes containing CpGs with significant differences in DNA methylati

SUBMITTER: Adkins RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3429933 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature