Cavia aperea Epigenomics

On a molecular level, diversity is represented by genetic and epigenetic variations. While the former reflects long-term evolutionary adaptations, the latter is a rapid adaptational response to external changes. Increasing evidence suggests that environmental changes not only alter the epigenetic make-up of affected individuals but that these alterations are also heritable. Past studies have focused on the maternal transmission of epigenetic information to the offspring of isogenic mice and rats in response to external changes, whereas heterogeneous wild mammals have been widely neglected as well as paternal epigenetic effects. We therefore temporally exposed Wild guinea pig males (Cavia aperea) to environmental changes and examined altered DNA methylation patterns in fathers and offspring.