Photo: Lambsquarters, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
Epigenetics: Their role in biological invasions
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
“Epigenetics involves molecular mechanisms that can cause variation in gene expression levels (and thus trait variation) without changes in the underlying DNA sequence… Recent research has shown that epigenetic variation, e.g., DNA methylation profiles, can be heritable over multiple generations… [Determining] inferences of epigenetic versus genetic contributions to phenotypic trait variation [is] difficult… Epigenetically controlled traits are usually differentially expressed in response to environmental cues and, when heritable, could have significant adaptive value” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
“…. Insights into the role of epigenetics in invasion biology, while rare and almost non-existent for trees, are now emerging.” Epigenetic variations are sometimes coupled with hybridization events. And diversity created through epigenetic variation may help species compensate for low genetic diversity in the introduced habitat, and contribute to greater phenotypic plasticity, which can improve the likelihood of invasive success (Zenni, et al., 2017).
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Epigenetics: Their role in biological invasions
Summaries of the research and commentary by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, July 2020.
“Epigenetics involves molecular mechanisms that can cause variation in gene expression levels (and thus trait variation) without changes in the underlying DNA sequence… Recent research has shown that epigenetic variation, e.g., DNA methylation profiles, can be heritable over multiple generations… [Determining] inferences of epigenetic versus genetic contributions to phenotypic trait variation [is] difficult… Epigenetically controlled traits are usually differentially expressed in response to environmental cues and, when heritable, could have significant adaptive value” (Zenni, et al., 2017).
“…. Insights into the role of epigenetics in invasion biology, while rare and almost non-existent for trees, are now emerging.” Epigenetic variations are sometimes coupled with hybridization events. And diversity created through epigenetic variation may help species compensate for low genetic diversity in the introduced habitat, and contribute to greater phenotypic plasticity, which can improve the likelihood of invasive success (Zenni, et al., 2017).
Next section on research on evolutionary dynamics:
Next Sections on research on the success of invasive species: