Im Zentrum des Projekts steht der Einfluss von umgebungs­be­ding­tem Stress auf epige­ne­ti­sche Verän­de­run­gen der Genex­pres­sion. Am Modell von Fischen wird der Einfluss von Stress bei Eltern auf langfris­tige maladap­tive Verhal­tens­än­de­run­gen in den Folge­ge­nera­tio­nen erforscht.

In diesem Projekt forschen die Hector Fellows Thomas Elbert und Axel Meyer zusam­men mit der Postdok­to­ran­din Dr. Amber Makowicz (Univer­si­tät Konstanz).

Chronic stress has been related to major mental disor­ders through changes in the HPA axis (an important stress response found in all verte­bra­tes) and is most notable through changes in DNA methy­la­tion. The most common mental disor­ders that occur from chronic stress are depres­sion and anxiety, although other psycho­pa­tho­lo­gi­cal disor­ders may also occur. Mothers are thought to be the primary influen­cer of offspring develo­p­ment, especi­ally in regards to neuro­de­ve­lo­p­ment. Evidence is mounting that suggests that some of these epige­ne­tic effects may even be trans­mit­ted trans­ge­ne­ra­tio­nally and would thus be directly affec­ting evolution.

Poeci­li­ids as a Model System

Poeci­li­ids are great models to test the effects of stress: they are small, livebea­ring fish that have short genera­tion times. There is no paren­tal care in any of the species, which provi­des a perfect control for the poten­tial influence of paren­tal behavi­ors on the offsprings’ behavi­ors. Most importantly, however, is that some species are matro­tro­phic featuring a placenta-like struc­ture and are able to trans­fer additio­nal nutri­ents to offspring during pregnancy, while others are lecito­tro­phic and show no additio­nal mater­nal trans­fer beyond the yoking of the egg.

The goal: To test the effects of stress on long-lasting maladap­tive behavi­oral changes in offspring of stres­sed parents and deter­mine how long these changes might be trans­mit­ted to subse­quent genera­ti­ons. This research will allow us to better under­stand how environ­men­tal stres­sors influence gene expres­sion and behavi­ors of offspring.