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 134
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
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- 3D genome
- myogenesis
- transgenerational inheritance
- enhancer–promoter interaction
- histone modification
- epigenetic variation
- complex traits
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
