Journal article
Expression discordance of monozygotic twins at birth: Effect of intrauterine environment and a possible mechanism for fetal programming
L Gordon, JHE Joo, R Andronikos, M Ollikainen, EM Wallace, MP Umstad, M Permezel, A Oshlack, R Morley, JB Carlin, R Saffery, GK Smyth, JM Craig
Epigenetics | TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC | Published : 2011
Abstract
Within-pair comparison of monozygotic (MZ) twins provides an ideal model for studying factors that regulate epigenetic profile, by controlling for genetic variation. Previous reports have demonstrated epigenetic variability within MZ pairs, but the contribution of early life exposures to this variation remains unclear. As epigenetic marks govern gene expression, we have used gene expression discordance as a proxy measure of epigenetic discordance in MZ twins at birth in two cell types. We found strong evidence of expression discordance at birth in both cell types and some evidence for higher discordance in twin pairs with separate placentas. Genes previously defined as being involved in resp..
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Awarded by Bonnie Babes Foundation
Funding Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Sarah Healy, Tina Vaiano, Nicole Brooks, Jennifer Foord, Sheila Holland, Anne Krastev, Siva Illancheran and Joanne Mockler for recruitment and sample collection, and all mothers and twins that participated in this study. This work was supported by grants from the from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council [grant numbers 437015 and 607358 to J.C. and R. S.], the Bonnie Babes Foundation [grant number BBF20704 to J.J.], the Sigrid Juselius Foundation [to M.O.], the Academy of Finland [to M.O.], the Finnish Cultural Foundation [to M.O.], and the Financial Markets Foundation for Children (grant no. 032-2007).