research

early life epigenetics

summary

Every tissue in our body plays a different "symphony" of life on the instruments of life - the genes. All tissues have the same genes but are "played" differently by factors referred to as "epigenetic". Importantly, these epigenetic factors are influenced by your environment, especially early in life. During this time, a large portion of our future health is "programmed" into our genes via epigenetic factors. It is therefore crucial to understand how these processes occur to help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and mental illness. My group focuses on teasing out the genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors involved in these processes.

group leader(s)

Jeff Craig

  Dr Jeffrey Craig
  Royal Children's Hospital
  Flemington Road
  Parkville
  Victoria, 3052

  T +61 3 8341 6346
  F +61 3 9348 1391
  E jeff.craig@mcri.edu.au

  group leader biography

 

current research projects

Project 1: The Peri/postnatal Epigenetic twins Study (PETS)

We have been studying 250 twin pairs since before they were born. We last saw the twins when they were 18 months old. In studying epigenetic differences within twin pairs, we aim to discover how individuals with identical genes can develop differences in health, appearance and personality. We are particularly interested in how the environment in the womb affects how babies' genes act and whether their genes 'remember' this experience later in life. So far our research has shown that the activity of twins' genes can be very similar and sometimes very different. We also have evidence that each twin within a pair has a different experience in the womb, which has important implication for all babies. We are currently looking at the epigenetic changes that can between birth and 18 months of age.

Project 2: The epigenetic legacy of prematurity

Through the Premature Infant Epigenetics Study (PIES) and the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study (VICS), we are studying the epigenetic marks associated with prematurity. Does being born premature leave a legacy on genes which predisposes to the health risks associated with premature birth? We are currently conducting experiments to search through the genomes of teenagers born premature. In these studies we are collaborating with Professor Lex Doyle and his team at the Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne. 

Project 3: Asking Questions About Alcohol (AQUA)

In a collaboration with Associate Professor Jane Halliday of the MCRI, we are asking whether low to moderate alcohol exposure in the womb leaves an epigenetic legacy on a baby's genes. We already know that heavy drinking in the womb can cause illness in offspring but as yet, there is no real evidence to determine what is a "safe" level of maternal alcohol consumption is. Our work hopes to add to this evidence.

team members

  • Mark Cruickshank - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Yun Dai - Research Assistant
  • Jennifer Foord - Research Assistant
  • xin Li - Research Assistant
  • Jane Loke - PhD Student (UoM Paeds)
  • Judith Spotswood - Research Assistant
  • Tina Vaiano - Research Assistant
  • Winnie Yeung - Volunteer

publications

  • Baynam G., Claes P., Craig JM., Goldblatt J., Kung S., Le Souef P., Walters M. Intersections of Epigenetics, Twinning and Developmental Asymmetries: Insights Into Monogenic and Complex Diseases and a Role for 3D Facial Analysis. TWIN RESEARCH AND HUMAN GENETICS 14 (4) : 305 - 315(2011) PubMed
  • Cobb JE., Wong NC., Yip LW., Martinick J., Bosnich R., Sinclair RD., Craig JM., Saffery R., Harrap SB., Ellis JA. Evidence of increased DNA methylation of the androgen receptor gene in occipital hair follicles from men with androgenetic alopecia. BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 165 (1) : 210 - 213(2011) PubMed
  • Drini M., Wong NC., Scott HS., Craig JM., Dobrovic A., Hewitt CA., Dow C., Young JP., Jenkins MA., Saffery R., Macrae FA. Investigating the Potential Role of Genetic and Epigenetic Variation of DNA Methyltransferase Genes in Hyperplastic Polyposis Syndrome. PLOS ONE 6 (2) (2011) PubMed
  • Evans-Galea MV., Carrodus N., Rowley SM., Corben LA., Tai G., Saffery R., Galati JC., Wong NC., Craig JM., Lynch DR., Regner S., Brocht AFD., Perlman SL., Bushara K., Gomez CM., Wilmot GR., Li L., Varley E., Delatycki MB., Sarsero JP. FXN methylation predicts expression and clinical outcome in friedreich ataxia. ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY (2011)
  • Gordon L., Joo JHE., Andronikos R., Ollikainen M., Wallace EM., Umstad MP., Permezel M., Oshlack A., Morley R., Carlin JB., Saffery R., Smyth GK., Craig JM. Expression discordance of monozygotic twins at birth Effect of intrauterine environment and a possible mechanism for fetal programming. EPIGENETICS 6 (5) : 579 - 592(2011) PubMed
  • Novakovic B., Gordon L., Wong NC., Moffett A., Manuelpillai U., Craig JM., Sharkey A., Saffery R. Wide-ranging DNA methylation differences of primary trophoblast cell populations and derived cell lines: implications and opportunities for understanding trophoblast function. MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION 17 (6) : 344 - 353(2011) PubMed
  • Novakovic B., Yuen RK., Gordon L., Penaherrera MS., Sharkey A., Moffett A., Craig JM., Robinson WP., Saffery R. Evidence for widespread changes in promoter methylation profile in human placenta in response to increasing gestational age and environmental/stochastic factors. BMC GENOMICS 12 (529) (2011) PubMed
  • Ollikainen M., Craig JM. Epigenetic discordance at imprinting control regions in twins. EPIGENOMICS 3 (3) : 295 - 306(2011)
  • Saffery R., Morley R., Carlin JB., Joo EJ., Ollikainen M., Novakovic B., Andronikos R., Li X., Loke YJ., Carson N., Wallace EM., Umstad MP., Permezel M., Galati JC., Craig JM. The Peri/post-natal Epigenetic Twins Study. International Journal of Epidemiology (2011)

competitive funding

For PETS, 2 grants from the Australian Government's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to commence the PETS study. One of the grants was one of only 5 awarded under the "Healthy Start To Life" initiative. We have also received donations from the Bonnie Babes Foundation and the Foundation for Children.

We received a grant from the Perpetual Trustees from the PIES study and project Grants from the NHMRC for our collaborations with Associate Professor Maarten van den Buuse and Associate Professor Jane Halliday.

collaborations & affiliations

Professor Lex Doyle, Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne
Associate Professor Jane Halliday, MCRI
Associate Professor Maarten van Den Buuse, Mental Health Research Institute, Melbourne
Professor Tim Spector, King's College London
Professor Andy Feinberg, Johns Hopkins University, USA