Population Epigenomics and Aging

The epigenome has memory functions, since it is able to preserve the results of cellular perturbations by environmental factors in form of changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications or 3D organization of chromatin. Such epigenetic drifts can be detected in epigenomic patterns, like in DNA methylation maps, that are heritable from parent to daughter cells and may in part even be transferred to the next generation. The concept of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance could explain how lifestyle factors of parents and grandparents, such as daily habits in eating and physical activity, can affect their offspring. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) use genome-wide assays, in order to demonstrate that cis- and trans-regulatory mechanisms shape patterns of population epigenomic variations in detail and as a whole. Different types of human cohort studies, ideally composed of mono-zygotic twins and best having a longitudinal design, are well suited to identify population epigenomic variations that are associated with human traits, such as disease risk.