US/UK Joint Workshop on Social and Behavioral Epigenetics

美国/英国社会和行为表观遗传学联合研讨会

• 批准号: 1448213
• 负责人: Connie Mulligan
• 金额: $ 4.89万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-15 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1448213&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: US; UK; Joint; Workshop; Social

Epigenetics (literally, "above the gene") is a field of science which studies stable alterations in gene expression which occur through modifications which do not alter the sequence composition of DNA, yet which produce stable alterations in phenotypes (the physical expression of the genome). There is growing evidence that these epigenetic factors are responsive to environmental exposures both pre- and post-natally in animals, including humans; very importantly, these factors influencing gene expression include aspects of the social and behavioral environments. Factors such as varying aspects of the nurturing environment for infants and young children, socioeconomic circumstances, degrees and forms of stress experienced by individuals, and substance abuse, for example, are implicated in long-lasting biological and behavioral effects which may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms - and these effects may not only persist into and throughout adulthood, but some may transcend generations, the effects being seen in offspring and grand-offspring of impacted individuals. As these social, behavioral, and psychological environmental influences on the epigenetic programming of biological and behavioral functioning can substantially impact human well-being and resilience, the science constituting the field of social and behavioral epigenetics is critically important. The societal benefits of the research in the field potentially will extend to impacts in areas such as human development and aging; memory, cognition, neuropsychology, stress, and learning; nutrition and nutritional issues such as obesity; substance abuse; violence; human biological functioning/variation and its adaptive/evolutionary significance; adaptation/maladaptation to rapid social and environmental change; and 'downstream' impacts on human health.The complexity of the science, including the need to integrate fields of social science, as well as those sciences with aspects of the biological sciences, supports the need for synthesis of a research agenda that can most effectively advance the field, including both short- and long-term goals. This workshop is specifically designed to develop this agenda and thereby guide the targeting and the breadth of funding required to advance social and behavioral epigenetic research. The international scope of the workshop - bringing together the most active and influential members of the US and UK research communities developing this science of global interest and importance - also will provide opportunity to compare perspectives, approaches, and resources which can be leveraged to move the field forward.

表观遗传学（从字面上，“基因上方”）是一个科学领域，研究基因表达的稳定变化，这种改变是通过不改变DNA序列组成的修饰而发生的，但在表型中产生稳定的改变（基因组的物理表达） ）。 越来越多的证据表明，这些表观遗传因素对包括人类在内的动物（包括人类）的诞生和后产后的环境暴露有反应。非常重要的是，这些影响基因表达的因素包括社会和行为环境的各个方面。 例如，诸如婴儿和幼儿养育环境的各个方面，社会经济环境，个人所经历的压力和形式以及滥用毒品的压力与长期持久的生物学和行为影响有关，这可能是由表观遗传介导的机制 - 这些影响不仅可能持续到整个成年期，而且有些可能超越了世代，在后代和受影响的个体的后代和大泉水中所看到的影响。 由于这些社会，行为和心理环境对生物学和行为功能的表观遗传编程的影响可能会大大影响人类的福祉和韧性，因此构成社会和行为表观遗传学领域的科学至关重要。 该领域研究的社会利益可能会扩展到人类发展和衰老等领域的影响；记忆，认知，神经心理学，压力和学习；营养和营养问题，例如肥胖；药物滥用；暴力; 人类生物学功能/变异及其自适应/进化意义；适应/适应快速的社会和环境变化；以及“下游”对人类健康的影响。科学的复杂性，包括将社会科学领域的需要以及这些科学与生物科学方面的各个方面相结合，支持了综合研究议程的必要性推进该领域，包括短期和长期目标。 该研讨会是专门设计的，旨在制定该议程，从而指导推进社会和行为表观遗传学研究所需的目标和资金广度。研讨会的国际范围 - 将美国和英国研究社区的最积极和有影响力的成员汇集在一起​​，发展了这项全球兴趣和重要性科学 - 还将提供机会，比较可以利用的观点，方法和资源来进行利用以移动的观点，方法和资源田地向前。