First Steps towards the Development of Epigenetic Biomarkers in Female Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

ABSTRACT: Free-ranging cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are generally healthy, whereas cheetahs under human care, such as those in zoological gardens, suffer from ill-defined infectious and degenerative pathologies. These differences are only partially explained by husbandry management programs because both groups share low genetic diversity. However, mounting evidence suggests that physiological differences between populations in different environments can be tracked down to differences in epigenetic signatures. Here, we identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between free-ranging cheetahs and conspecifics in zoological gardens and prospect putative links to pathways relevant to immunity, energy balance and homeostasis. Comparing epigenomic DNA methylation profiles obtained from peripheral b

SUBMITTER: Weyrich A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9225391 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature