title: Epigenetics and inheritance of phenotype variation in livestock.
abstract: Epigenetic inheritance plays a crucial role in many biological processes, such as gene expression in early embryo development, imprinting and the silencing of transposons. It has recently been established that epigenetic effects can be inherited from one generation to the next. Here, we review examples of epigenetic mechanisms governing animal phenotype and behaviour, and we discuss the importance of these findings in respect to animal studies, and livestock in general. Epigenetic parameters orchestrating transgenerational effects, as well as heritable disorders, and the often-overlooked areas of livestock immunity and stress, are also discussed. We highlight the importance of nutrition and how it is linked to epigenetic alteration. Finally, we describe how our understanding of epigenetics is underpinning the latest cancer research and how this can be translated into directed efforts to improve animal health and welfare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Production, Infrastructure and Environment, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos St., 11855 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Kostas A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Triantaphyllopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, School of Agricultural Production, Infrastructure and Environment, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos St., 11855 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ikonomopoulos
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN UK.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bannister
keywords: Acetylation; DNA methylation; Epigenetic; Histone; Imprinting; Inheritance; Livestock; Nutrition; Transcription; Transgenerational