Epigenetic marks drive animal individuality, study says
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- Collaborative Research Center NC³ and University of Münster co‑authored a study linking epigenetic variation to animal individuality, published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
- Dr. Denis Meuthen says the study proposes a bidirectional interaction where epigenetic marks and individual behavior mutually shape each other.
- Researchers distinguish environment‑induced epigenetic changes from spontaneous or genetically determined modifications, arguing both affect phenotypic diversity.
- Individuals can modify their environment (e.g., building nests), which in turn creates new epigenetic patterns that may be passed to offspring without germline inheritance.
- Epigenetic processes could buffer natural selection and help maintain epigenetic diversity within populations.
- Study recommends analyzing genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic traits together to better assess adaptive capacity under climate change and biodiversity loss.
- JICE (Joint Institute for Individualization in a Changing Environment) and the InChangE focus area at Bielefeld University host the research on individualization in changing environments.
Why it matters: Ecologists and conservationists gain a concrete framework to gauge population resilience, as the study shows epigenetic diversity potentially buffers natural selection and sustains adaptability in changing climates, while species lacking such epigenetic flexibility risk reduced survival prospects in the face of rapid environmental change.
