The exploding field of epigenetics is challenging the dogma of traditional Mendelian inheritance. Epigenetics plays an important role in shaping who we are and contributes to our prospects of health and disease. While early epigenetic research focused on plant and animal models and in vitro experiments, population-based epidemiologic studies increasingly incorporate epigenetic components. The relevance of epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, genomic imprinting, and histone modification for disease causation has yet to be fully explored.This book covers the basic concepts of epigenetic epidemiology, discusses challenges in study design, analysis, and interpretation, epigenetic laboratory techniques, the influence of age and environmental factors on shaping the epigenome, the role of epigenetics in the developmental origins hypothesis, and provides the state of the art on the epigenetic epidemiology of various health conditions including childhood syndromes, cancer, infectious diseases, inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, diabetes, obesity and metabolic disorders, and atherosclerosis.
With contributions from: Peter Jones, Jean-Pierre Issa, Gavin Kelsey, Robert Waterland, and many other experts in epigenetics!
With contributions from: Peter Jones, Jean-Pierre Issa, Gavin Kelsey, Robert Waterland, and many other experts in epigenetics!
From the reviews:
"It aims to be both a primer in epidemiology for epigeneticists and an epigenetics reference for epidemiologists. ... the field of epigenetic epidemiology is in ascendency and this textbook provides the first broad foundation for anyone embarking on population-based studies in epigenetic epidemiology. ... Any prospective researcher aspiring to address any of the many unanswered fundamental issues in this field would certainly find this book a must useful reference." (Catherine Potter and Caroline L. Relton, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 41 (1), February, 2012)
"It aims to be both a primer in epidemiology for epigeneticists and an epigenetics reference for epidemiologists. ... the field of epigenetic epidemiology is in ascendency and this textbook provides the first broad foundation for anyone embarking on population-based studies in epigenetic epidemiology. ... Any prospective researcher aspiring to address any of the many unanswered fundamental issues in this field would certainly find this book a must useful reference." (Catherine Potter and Caroline L. Relton, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol. 41 (1), February, 2012)