Genomics Commons^™

Chromatin Accessibility Dynamics In The Arabidopsis Root Epidermis And Endodermis During Cold Acclimation, Shawn Hoogstra

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Understanding cell-type specific transcriptional responses to environmental conditions is limited by a lack of knowledge of transcriptional control due to epigenetic dynamics. Additionally, cell-type analyses are limited by difficulties in applying current technologies to single cell-types. A novel DNase-seq protocol and analysis procedure, deemed DNase-DTS, was developed to identify DHSs in the Arabidopsis epidermis and endodermis under control and cold acclimation conditions. Results identified thousands of DHSs within each cell-type and experimental condition. DHSs showed strong association to gene expression, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. A priori mapping of existing DNA binding motifs within accessible genes and the cold C-repeat/dehydration …

Epigenetic Modifications Of Human Placenta Associated With Preterm Birth, Drissa Toure

Theses & Dissertations

Preterm birth is a complex multifactorial process. Despite the well-known role of the placenta in supporting the fetal development and maternal-fetal tolerance, the placental epigenetic modifications and preterm birth (PTB) remains poorly understood and under investigated. Various maternal and environment factors can influence epigenetic programming during fetal development to affect the functioning and structures of organs, including the placenta, which can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including PTB. The understanding of the placental epigenetic alterations and maternal determinants associated with PTB are apparently indispensable for the development of actual diagnosis and methods of prevention and treatment of premature labor. The …

Hippocampal Epigenetic Changes In A Mouse Model Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Eric J. Chater-Diehl

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) refers to the neurological, developmental, and behavioural abnormalities arising from in utero ethanol exposure. These abnormities included attention deficit, anxiety, and learning and memory impairment persisting into adulthood. The molecular mechanisms of such persistent behavioural changes remain unknown and are an area of intense research. In this thesis, mice were exposed to ethanol during the third trimester equivalent, the peak of synaptic development. Following this exposure, genome-wide epigenetic and gene expression and changes in the hippocampus were assessed in adult (70 day old) mice.

In the first experiment, genome-wide trimethylation of histone H3 at histone …