The epigenome refers to all heritable information that does not originate in the sequence of DNA. Finally, we close with a discussion of the current state of the area’s research, its future direction, and its potential use in pediatric health. Third, we discuss physical environmental and social environmental effects, which have to date, generally not been jointly considered. Second, we compare the epigenetic literatures of both humans and other animals and review the research linking epigenetic patterns to health in order to complete the mechanistic pathway. First, we review the basic biology of epigenetic modification of DNA and debate the role of early-life stressful, protective, and positive environments on gene-specific, system-specific, and whole-genome epigenetic patterns later in life. In this review, we examine the literature on early-life effects on epigenetic patterns, with special emphasis on social environmental influences. Despite the large increase in papers on the topic over the last few years, many questions remain with regards to the biological feasibility of this mechanism and the strength of the evidence to date. Epigenetics, and especially DNA methylation, have recently become provocative biological explanations for early-life environmental effects on later health.
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