Epigenetics in Human Reproduction and Development

Epigenetics is defined as heritable changes that do not affect the DNA sequence but influence gene expression. Epigenetic changes occur at the levels of DNA, histone, protein, and chromatin structures. Proper epigenetic modifications are essential for cell differentiation and function during development, while some epigenetic modifications are passed on from parents to offspring through gametes. Therefore, alterations of epigenetic states would have serious consequences for human development and health. This realization and the advent of new technologies have encouraged the advance of epigenetic studies in recent years. Nonetheless, many aspects of epigenetics, such as regulatory mechanisms and evolutional advantages, remain to be better understood.

Written by 26 scientists at the forefront of epigenetics research, this book discusses the different facets of epigenetics: from gametogenesis to child development, as well as from mechanistic studies in animal models to reviews of human clinical data.

Contents:

• Epigenetics and Transposon Control in the Mammalian Germline (Safia Malki and Alex Bortvin)
• Epigenetic Modifications During Mammalian Oogenesis: Emerging Roles of Chromatin During Oocyte Growth and Meiotic Maturation (Rabindranath De La Fuente, Claudia Baumann and Maria M Viveiros)
• Meiotic Recombination in the Human Germ Line (Fatima Smagulova)
• Epigenetics of Male Infertility (Debbie Montjean, Antoine D Rolland and Celia Ravel)
• Epigenetic Regulation of X-Chromosome Inactivation (Bernhard Payer)
• Placentation and Genomic Imprinting (Courtney W Hanna and Wendy P Robinson)
• Genetic and Epigenetic Variation at the H19 Imprinted Region and Its Effect on Birth Weight (Celia M T Greenwood, Changjiang Xu, Shomoita Alam, Julia Krushkal, Ronald M Adkins and Anna K Naumova)
• Disturbances in Folate Metabolism and Their Impact on Development (Renata H Bahous, Karen E Christensen and Rima Rozen)
• Early Life Experiences and Their Influence on Epigenetic Marks and Human Brain Development (Anke Hoffmann and Dietmar Spengler)
• Epigenetic Consequences of Human Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Debra L Fulton, Seang Lin Tan and Teruko Taketo)

Readership: Professors, scientists, trainees, and residents in the field of reproduction and epigenetics.
Key Features:

• Focuses on the functions of epigenetics during gametogenesis and embryonic development
• Covers both the basic science in animal models and humans as well as overviews of human clinical data
• Presents the current ideas and approaches that address epigenetic phenomena from different angles