Book chapter
The genetic and epigenetic essentials of modern humans
Genetics of Psychological Well-Being
Oxford University Press
06/01/2015
DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199686674.003.0002
Abstract
Over the past two decades, our ability to quantify genetic and epigenetic contributions to human behavior has increased by several orders of magnitude. Although therapeutic manipulation of genetic and epigenetic factors remains largely beyond our grasp, by better specifying these contributions we can more precisely delineate environmental and gene–environment interplay effects—both of which offer malleable points of therapeutic intervention. To achieve a better understanding of genetic and epigenetic factors, this chapter reviews human genetic structure and genetic variation, including single nucleotide, simple repeat, and copy number polymorphisms, as well as the factors involved in epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and quaternary structure. It then discusses how genetic and epigenetic factors interact to influence transcription and to maintain genomic tone, and concludes by outlining the fundamental mechanisms through which environmental factors can interact with genetic diversity (i.e., gene–environment interaction) to produce behavioral variation at the cellular and organismic levels.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The genetic and epigenetic essentials of modern humans
- Creators
- Robert A PhilibertSteven R. H Beach
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Genetics of Psychological Well-Being
- DOI
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199686674.003.0002
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; Oxford
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2015
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
- Record Identifier
- 9984071954502771
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