Early-life social experience affects offspring DNA methylation and later life stress phenotype

Early social experience can alter epigenetic patterns and stress responses later in life. A study on wild spotted hyenas finds that maternal care and social connections after leaving the den influence DNA methylation and contribute to a developmentally plastic stress response.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zachary M. Laubach, Julia R. Greenberg, Julie W. Turner, Tracy M. Montgomery, Malit O. Pioon, Maggie A. Sawdy, Laura Smale, Raymond G. Cavalcante, Karthik R. Padmanabhan, Claudia Lalancette, Bridgett vonHoldt, Christopher D. Faulk, Dana C. Dolinoy, Kay E. Holekamp, Wei Perng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24583-x