An epigenetic clock for gestational age at birth based on blood methylation data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gestational age is often used as a proxy for developmental maturity by clinicians and researchers alike. DNA methylation has previously been shown to be associated with age and has been used to accurately estimate chronological age in children and adults. In the current study, we examine whether DNA methylation in cord blood can be used to estimate gestational age at birth.

Results

We find that gestational age can be accurately estimated from DNA methylation of neonatal cord blood and blood spot samples. We calculate a DNA methylation gestational age using 148 CpG sites selected through elastic net regression in six training datasets. We evaluate predictive accuracy in nine testing datasets and find that the accuracy of the DNA methylation gestational age is consi

SUBMITTER: Knight AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5054584 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature