Research Projects

Epigenetics is a field that studies changes in gene expression without altering DNA sequence, which is crucial for understanding physiological functions and diseases. It includes the methylation status of DNA, posttranslational modifications of histones, and non-coding RNAs. Urbanization is causing significant environmental changes, including the availability of artificial light at night, altering food availability, and increasing temperatures. These factors interact with the reproductive system, leading to phenological shifts across trophic levels. This study aims to study how wild species adapt to this changing environment and how it influences their reproductive system using an epigenetic approach. The objectives include elucidating photoperiod-dependent regulation of hypothalamic transcriptome and methylome, characterizing physiological state-dependent hypothalamic transcriptome and methylome, examining the effect of night light on these processes, identifying novel temperature-dependent regulation, and identifying novel food-dependent regulation. This study aims to help us understand how wild species adapt to the changing environment.