Beyond the genome-Towards an epigenetic understanding of handedness ontogenesis

Progress in Neurobiology
Judith SchmitzSebastian Ocklenburg

Abstract

Hemispheric asymmetries represent one of the major organizational principles in vertebrate neurobiology, but their molecular determinants are not well understood. For handedness, the most widely investigated form of hemispheric asymmetries in humans, single gene explanations have been the most popular ontogenetic model in the past. However, molecular genetic studies revealed only few specific genes that explain a small fraction of the phenotypic variance. In contrast, family studies indicated heritability of up to 0.66. It has been suggested that the lack of recognizable genetic heritability is partly accounted for by heritable epigenetic mechanisms. Based on recent neuroscientific findings highlighting the importance of epigenetic mechanisms for brain function and disease, we review recent findings describing non-genetic influences on handedness from conception to childhood. We aim to advance the idea that epigenetic regulation might be the mediating mechanism between environment and phenotype. Recent findings on molecular epigenetic mechanisms indicate that particular asymmetries in DNA methylation might affect asymmetric gene expression in the central nervous system that in turn mediates handedness. We propose that an integr...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 16, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Kauko HeikkiläEero Vuoksimaa
Feb 12, 2019·Laterality·Sebastian OcklenburgMarietta Papadatou-Pastou
May 10, 2019·Laterality·Alexandre Jehan Marcori, Victor Hugo Alves Okazaki
May 23, 2019·Molecular Neurobiology·Gesa BerretzSebastian Ocklenburg
Jul 25, 2019·PloS One·Nicole A ThomasElizabeth J Saccone
Feb 18, 2020·Laterality·Eliza L Nelson, Sandy L Gonzalez
Feb 11, 2020·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Kirsten JordanJürgen Leo Müller
Sep 4, 2020·Scientific Reports·Julian PackheiserSebastian Ocklenburg
May 28, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·Judith SchmitzSebastian Ocklenburg
Apr 3, 2020·Physiological Reviews·Onur GüntürkünSebastian Ocklenburg
Aug 14, 2020·Laterality·Sebastian OcklenburgPatrick Friedrich
Dec 2, 2020·Scientific Reports·Gesa BerretzSebastian Ocklenburg
Jul 17, 2020·Behavioural Brain Research·Annakarina MundorfNadja Freund
Feb 9, 2020·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Gesa BerretzSebastian Ocklenburg
Apr 9, 2021·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Gianluca MalatestaLuca Tommasi
Apr 19, 2019·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·Mark A EckertUNKNOWN Dyslexia Data Consortium
May 19, 2021·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Martina MannsSebastian Ocklenburg
Jul 9, 2021·Brain Structure & Function·Sebastian OcklenburgErhan Genç
Oct 5, 2021·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Lesleigh E PullmanD B Krupp
Jan 23, 2022·Neuropsychology Review·Evgenia NastouMarietta Papadatou-Pastou

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