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Review
. 2016 Jun;43(2):59-81.
doi: 10.5653/cerm.2016.43.2.59. Epub 2016 Jun 23.

Epigenetics: A key paradigm in reproductive health

Neha Bunkar  1 , Neelam Pathak  2 , Nirmal Kumar Lohiya  3 , Pradyumna Kumar Mishra  4
Affiliations
Review

Epigenetics: A key paradigm in reproductive health

Neha Bunkar et al. Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

It is well established that there is a heritable element of susceptibility to chronic human ailments, yet there is compelling evidence that some components of such heritability are transmitted through non-genetic factors. Due to the complexity of reproductive processes, identifying the inheritance patterns of these factors is not easy. But little doubt exists that besides the genomic backbone, a range of epigenetic cues affect our genetic programme. The inter-generational transmission of epigenetic marks is believed to operate via four principal means that dramatically differ in their information content: DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNAs and nucleosome positioning. These epigenetic signatures influence the cellular machinery through positive and negative feedback mechanisms either alone or interactively. Understanding how these mechanisms work to activate or deactivate parts of our genetic programme not only on a day-to-day basis but also over generations is an important area of reproductive health research.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Epigenomics; Histone code; MicroRNAs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The basic mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. miRNA, microRNA.
Figure 2
Figure 2. A summary of epigenetic mechanisms during gametogenesis and embryogenesis. PGC, primordial germ cell; ART, assisted reproductive technology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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