Population epigenetics

Abstract

Epigenetics is the study of molecular-level mechanisms resulting in heritable changes in phenotype not due to DNA sequence changes. Epigenetic variation can change in response to environmental conditions, which allows for the examination of within-generation environmental response. This is one reason epigenetics could lend new insight into population-level processes. Population-level studies are currently rare, but because environment can affect phenotype we must show that findings from controlled epigenetic systems matter in natural populations. In this chapter, we emphasize studies in nonmodel organisms and in natural populations examining epigenetic response to ecological conditions. Future studies should incorporate experimental validation of stable versus induced epigenetic changes and modification of current statistical approaches.