Mounting evidence from epigenetic research in humans and animals has demonstrated that epigenetics plays a complementary role to genetics, touching many aspects of biological processes such as reproduction, early development, disease, growth, and nutrition. The role of epigenetics in aquaculture and aquatic animals is similar to other vertebrates in principle. New findings regarding epigenetics being made in Metazoa have the potential to contribute to future applications related to the wellbeing and productivity of farm animals and aquaculture species with minimal environmental impact. However, the roles of epigenetic mechanisms and their potential in the aforementioned aspects are far from being fully understood. Thus, more studies are needed to generate/identify comprehensive data and fill the knowledge gaps concerning the contributions of epigenetics to reproduction, growth, nutrition, health, and the immune response of farm animals and aquaculture species.
Research interests and focuses:
- Epigenetically modulated gene expression in regulation of sexual size dimorphism and sex determination
- Epigenetic effects on production traits
- Impacts of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance on domestication and selective breeding
- Correlation between epigenetics and related physiologic responses
- Epigenetic biomarker development and utilization in farm animal management
- Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS)