Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlie Genome Development

• Published in: International journal of developmental science Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 87 - 91
• Main Author: Lamm, Ehud
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOS Press 2013
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Developmental Psychology; Evolution; Genetics; Probability
• ISSN: 2192-001X
• DOI: 10.3233/DEV-1300076

Technological and methodological advances, in particular next-generation sequencing and chromatin profiling, has led to a deluge of data on epigenetic mechanisms and processes. Epigenetic regulation in the brain is no exception. In this commentary, Ehud Lamm writes that extending existing frameworks for thinking about psychological development to include molecular epigenetic mechanisms is a worthy and timely goal, and this is what Vanessa Lux (2013) attempted in her article. Lux suggested augmenting probabilistic epigenesis by incorporating molecular epigenetic mechanisms as mechanisms that mediate between neurons' genetic activity and their neuronal activity and the neuronal activity of their surrounding cells. The discussion in this article shows that this is indeed a plausible place to locate some epigenetic activity however Lamm comments that it is a move that raises the following questions: (1) Why add just epigenetics and not all regulation and stabilization mechanisms (e.g., transcription factors): (2) Why are genetic changes (e.g., transposition) not included in addition to changes in genetic activity; and (3) Is the model supposed to be mechanistic or just to highlight equifinality and the bi-directional, multi-level, nature of development?