Reproductive epigenetics

Epigenetics refers to covalent modifications of DNA and core histones that regulate gene activity without altering DNA sequence. To date, the best-characterized DNA modification associated with the modulation of gene activity is methylation of cytosine residues within CpG dinucleotides. Human disorders associated with epigenetic abnormalities include rare imprinting diseases, molar pregnancies, and childhood cancers. Germ cell development and early embryo development are critical times when epigenetic patterns are initiated or maintained. This review focuses on the epigenetic modification DNA methylation and discusses recent progress that has been made in understanding when and how epigenetic patterns are differentially established in the male and female germlines, the mouse, and human disorders associated with abnormalities in epigenetic programming in germ cells and early embryos, as well as genetic and other modulators (e.g. nutrition and drugs) of reproductive epigenetic events.