Ecological Epigenetics: Beyond MS-AFLP

Integr Comp Biol. 2013 Aug;53(2):340-50. doi: 10.1093/icb/ict012. Epub 2013 Apr 12.

Abstract

Ecological Epigenetics studies the relationship between epigenetic variation and ecologically relevant phenotypic variation. As molecular epigenetic mechanisms often control gene expression, even across generations, they may impact many evolutionary processes. Multiple molecular epigenetic mechanisms exist, but methylation of DNA so far has dominated the Ecological Epigenetic literature. There are several molecular techniques used to screen methylation of DNA; here, we focus on the most common technique, methylation-sensitive-AFLP (MS-AFLP), which is used to identify genome-wide methylation patterns. We review studies that used MS-AFLP to address ecological questions, that describe which taxa have been investigated, and that identify general trends in the field. We then discuss, noting the general themes, four studies across taxa that demonstrate characteristics that increase the inferences that can be made from MS-AFLP data; we suggest that future MS-AFLP studies should incorporate these methods and techniques. We then review the short-comings of MS-AFLP and suggest alternative techniques that might address some of these limitations. Finally, we make specific suggestions for future research on MS-AFLP and identify questions that are most compelling and tractable in the short term.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis / methods
  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis / trends*
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Ecology / trends*
  • Epigenomics / trends*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Phenotype