Epigenetic Regulation in Cell Development, Differentiation and Cell Fate
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 119
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Epigenetic mechanisms play a vital role in regulating gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, offering a dynamic and reversible layer of control essential for animal development, cellular differentiation, and fate determination. These mechanisms—including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and genome architecture—are key to establishing stable gene expression programs during cell development and tissue specialization.
This Special Issue, “Epigenetic Regulation in Cell Development, Differentiation and Cell Fate”, presents recent advances in understanding how epigenetic regulation shapes developmental processes and phenotypic diversity in animal systems. The articles featured span studies on livestock, companion animals, and model organisms, with a focus on the role of epigenetic dynamics in embryonic development, cell development, and lineage specification, such as during myogenesis.
In the context of animal genetics, epigenetic variation is increasingly recognized as a contributor to complex traits, environmental adaptability, and transgenerational inheritance. The studies included here also aim to explore how external factors such as nutrition, stress, and climate can alter epigenetic landscapes with long-term effects on animal health and productivity.
This Special Issue also highlights emerging technologies—such as single-cell epigenomics and chromatin conformation assays—that are transforming how we study regulatory mechanisms in animals. Together, these contributions provide valuable insights for advancing both fundamental research and applied strategies in breeding, development, and animal biotechnology.
Prof. Dr. Gang Ren
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- 3D genome
- myogenesis
- transgenerational inheritance
- enhancer–promoter interaction
- histone modification
- epigenetic variation
- complex traits
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