Environmental Epigenetics Spanning Animal, Clinical, and Global Population Approaches

Environmental exposures during development and other critical life stages induce changes to the epigenome resulting in potentially deleterious effects including metabolic and neurological disorders. An individual’s genetic make-up plays an important role in their response to pollutant exposure; however, the intrinsic mechanisms regulating gene expression, collectively called the epigenome, also influence individual and population response to pollutant exposures. Epigenetic regulators, such as chromatin modifications, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs, function as critical and dynamic mediators of gene expression that shape the way that cells, tissues, and individuals respond to pollutant exposure. Utilizing mouse models, hospital cohorts, and global populations in Mexico and Egypt, we evaluate the effects of environmental exposures and diet on the epigenome that influence later-in-life risk of disease.