Epigenetic Epidemiology, 2012

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!

Introduction.-1. The Human Epigenome.-2. Considerations in the Design, Conduct, and Interpretation of Studies in Epigenetic Epidemiology.-3. Laboratory methods in epigenetic epidemiology.-4. Biostatistical methods in epigenetic epidemiology.-5. Epigenome changes during development.-6. The role of epigenetics in the developmental origins of health and disease.-7. Epigenetics and assisted reproductive technology.-8. Imprinting disorders of early childhood.-9. The utility of twins for epigenetic analysis.-10. Changes in the epigenetic profile with age.-11. Influence of environmental factors on the epigenome.-12. Epigenetic epidemiology of cancer.-13. Epigenetic epidemiology of infectious diseases.-14. Epigenetic epidemiology of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.-15. Asthma epigenetics: Emergence of a new paradigm? -16. Epigenetic epidemiology of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.-17. Epigenetic epidemiology of psychiatric disorders.-18. Epigenetic epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.-19. Epigenetic epidemiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic disorders.-20. Epigenetic epidemiology of atherosclerosis. Index.

First book in this new, emerging field

State of the art on human evidence in epigenetics

Helps to digest rapid growing information on epigenetics in humans

A guide how to design a study on epigenetics in humans

Assists in interpreting and understanding epigenetic evidence in humans