Quantitative epigenetics: DNA sequence variation need not apply.
Two recent reports, including one by Reinders and colleagues (pp. 939-950) in the April 15, 2009, issue of Genes & Development, describe the construction of Arabidopsis recombinant inbred populations that maximize epigenetic rather than genetic variation. The distribution and behavior of phenotypic variation in these populations suggest that stable epialleles can control complex quantitative traits. However, stochastic epimutation and transposon movement in these populations present some unexpected technical hurdles to implementing quantitative epigenetic analysis.
Richards
Eric J
EJ
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. ejr77@cornell.edu
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D014644:Genetic Variation; D042822:Genomic Instability; D007178:Inbreeding; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements