Epigenetics

Dr Anke van Eekelen
Dr Craig Pennell
Professor Lawrie Beilin
Professor John Newnham
Professor Fiona Stanley
Dr Trevor Mori
Dr Eugen Mattes
Dr Rae Chi Huang

Melbourne
Dr Jeff Craig
Dr Richard Saffery
Dr Craig Olson
Professor George Patton

Canada
Professor Stephen Lye

Epigenetic regulation concerns those events which influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic research in the Raine Study will concentrate on the influence of the environment on child development via epigenetics. We are interested in studying the interaction of genetics and epigenetics as a possible mechanism underlying the development of disease in later life, such as obesity, heart disease and mental health. We aim to analyse the prevalence of genetic variation in specific disease-related genes in combination with the methylation status of the gene-regulatory of these genes, which reflects a biochemical status of the DNA of the gene of interest. Both genetic and epigenetic influences are known to affect how well these genes function. This will have direct consequences for the biological system, in which they play a role.

Last updated 13 November 2008