Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice
Abstract The evolutionary impact of epigenetic variation depends on its transgenerational stability and source - whether genetically determined, environmentally induced, or due to spontaneous, genotype-independent mutations. Here, we evaluate current approaches for investigating an independent role...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55989-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585551444705280 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah A. Mueller Justin Merondun Sonja Lečić Jochen B. W. Wolf |
| author_facet | Sarah A. Mueller Justin Merondun Sonja Lečić Jochen B. W. Wolf |
| author_sort | Sarah A. Mueller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The evolutionary impact of epigenetic variation depends on its transgenerational stability and source - whether genetically determined, environmentally induced, or due to spontaneous, genotype-independent mutations. Here, we evaluate current approaches for investigating an independent role of epigenetics in evolution, pinpointing methodological challenges. We further identify opportunities arising from integrating epigenetic data with population genetic analyses in natural populations. Efforts to advance data quality, study design, and statistical treatment are encouraged to consolidate our understanding of the source of heritable epigenetic variation, quantify its autonomous potential for evolution, and enrich population genetic analyses with an additional layer of information. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-21f39480b6934ea0ae87567f48db50d8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-21f39480b6934ea0ae87567f48db50d82025-01-26T12:42:46ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-55989-6Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practiceSarah A. Mueller0Justin Merondun1Sonja Lečić2Jochen B. W. Wolf3Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU MunichDivision of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU MunichDivision of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU MunichDivision of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU MunichAbstract The evolutionary impact of epigenetic variation depends on its transgenerational stability and source - whether genetically determined, environmentally induced, or due to spontaneous, genotype-independent mutations. Here, we evaluate current approaches for investigating an independent role of epigenetics in evolution, pinpointing methodological challenges. We further identify opportunities arising from integrating epigenetic data with population genetic analyses in natural populations. Efforts to advance data quality, study design, and statistical treatment are encouraged to consolidate our understanding of the source of heritable epigenetic variation, quantify its autonomous potential for evolution, and enrich population genetic analyses with an additional layer of information.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55989-6 |
| spellingShingle | Sarah A. Mueller Justin Merondun Sonja Lečić Jochen B. W. Wolf Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice Nature Communications |
| title | Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| title_full | Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| title_short | Epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| title_sort | epigenetic variation in light of population genetic practice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55989-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahamueller epigeneticvariationinlightofpopulationgeneticpractice AT justinmerondun epigeneticvariationinlightofpopulationgeneticpractice AT sonjalecic epigeneticvariationinlightofpopulationgeneticpractice AT jochenbwwolf epigeneticvariationinlightofpopulationgeneticpractice |