A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Adaptive evolution and epigenetics (2023)

Kronholm, I. (2023). Adaptive evolution and epigenetics. In T. O. Tollefsbol (Ed.), Handbook of Epigenetics : The New Molecular and Medical Genetics (Third Edition., pp. 551-565). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91909-8.00014-1

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kronholm, Ilkka

Parent publication: Handbook of Epigenetics : The New Molecular and Medical Genetics

Parent publication editors: Tollefsbol, Trygve O.

ISBN: 978-0-323-91909-8

Edition: Third Edition

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 16/09/2022

Pages range: 551-565

Number of pages in the book: 902

Publisher: Academic Press

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91909-8.00014-1

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Additional information: Chapter 28

Abstract

Evolution by natural selection requires that differences among individuals are heritable to some degree. However, evolutionary theory is not dependent on a particular mechanism of inheritance. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and particular histone modifications, can be inherited but their properties can differ from ordinary genetic mutations. Mutational supply, stability, and the distribution of phenotypic effects can be different for epigenetic mutations. Given these different properties, spontaneous epigenetic changes can alter evolutionary dynamics. Evolutionary models suggest that adaptation with epigenetic variation proceeds in two phases: adaptation happens initially via epigenetic changes, and in the second phase those epigenetic changes are replaced by genetic mutations. There is now some experimental evidence that suggests epigenetic variation can speed up adaptation this way. Moreover, plastic responses that are transmitted to the next generation via epigenetic changes can evolve in certain types of fluctuating environments and can affect subsequent adaptation to new a environment. While it is now clear that certain epigenetic changes can be inherited and can affect adaptation, many open questions remain concerning the importance of epigenetic changes in evolution.

Keywords: epigenetics; evolution; mutations

Free keywords: epigenetic variation; modeling evolution; phenotypic plasticity; differentially methylated regions; ancestral allele

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 2