title: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: the epigenetic perspective.
abstract: Ethanol is a classic teratogen capable of inducing a wide range of developmental abnormalities. Studies in animal models suggest that differences in timing and dosage underlie this variability, with three particularly important developmental periods: preconception, preimplantation, and gastrulation. These periods of teratogenesis correlate with peak periods of epigenetic reprogramming which, together with the evidence that ethanol interferes with one-carbon metabolism, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA, suggests an important role for epigenetic mechanisms in the etiology of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). In addition to a number of testable hypotheses, an epigenetic model suggests that the concept of a "fetal alcohol spectrum" should be expanded to include "preconceptional effects." This proposal has important public health implications, highlighting the urgency of research into the epigenetic basis of FASDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa. pch43@medschl.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Haycock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol