About this Research Topic
Genomic diversity due to alterations in nucleotide sequences of DNA is not the only heritable information influencing population survival, evolution and ecology. In fact, epigenomic variations including methylation of DNA or chromatin states have been shown to inherit from one generation to another and influence phenotypic characters, indicating that both genomic and epigenomic variations have multiple implications on species and population diversity. Linking evolutionary dynamics of epigenomic variations to genomic diversity in DNA methylation remains a challenge. Investigating population genetics and the trajectories of evolution of mutations causing DNA methylation changes, combined with genome editing, could unravel the evolutionary significance of variations in epigenome.
This Research Topic welcomes both original studies and review articles assessing the genomic and epigenomic variations in health and diseases of different species. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Genomic and epigenomic polymorphisms in heterogeneous environments.
· Causes and consequences of genomic and epigenomic heterogeneity in disease evolution.
· Epigenomic annotations for investigating complex characters.
· Understanding the relationship of environmental/phenotypic factors with genomic and epigenomic characteristics of species/populations.
· Genetic factors influencing dynamic signatures of epigenome and its effects.
· Comprehensive analysis of epigenetic heterogeneity in identifying disease drivers.
· Impact of heritable epigenetic variation on evolution and its significance.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.