Epigenome anthropology: aiming for a better understanding of human phenotypic variation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14612
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Physical anthropology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2017); Jichi Medical University (2015-2016)
• Principal Investigator: Kazuhiro Nakayama 東京大学, 大学院新領域創成科学研究科, 准教授 (90433581)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / 環境適応 / ヒト / 遊牧 / 農耕 / DNAメチル化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To evaluate the influence of differences in traditional life styles on epigenetic information and phenotypic diversity, We compared the genome - wide methylation levels of the peripheral blood DNA of 48 individuals from Mongolians (nomadic pastoralists) and Thai (agriculturalist). As a result, it was revealed that the CpG sequences near the promoter of the genes contributing to energy metabolism systems, such as the AMP activated protein kinase pathways and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor pathways, showed a large difference in methylation level.

Free Research Field

人類学