DNA methylation profile of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) exposed to organochlorine contaminants.

We sampled skin and blubber from 6 fin whale (Balenoptera physalus) individuals living in the northern Mediterranean Sea. Blubber was analyzed for Organochlorines levels while genomic DNA extracted from the skin of the animals with the lowest (mean value = 19 µg/g lipid basis, l.b.) (group 1, n=3) and the highest (mean value = 53 µg/g l.b.) (group 2, n=3) levels of contaminants were used for DNAm profiling through reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Examination of the differences in the methylation patterns observed comparing group 1 to group 2 and potential correlation to environmental contaminant exposure and load in the whale tissues