Važnost epigenetike u prilagodbi organizama na izmijenjene okolišne uvjete i uloga epigenetike u procesu specijacij

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): The importance of epigenetics in the adaptation of organisms to changed environmental conditions and the role of epigenetics in the process of speciation
• Author: Vala Medvedec
• Mentor: Ivan Radosavljević (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Djelovanjem evolucijskih mehanizama populacije su stekle karakteristike koje su im bile nužne za
preživljavanje u određenom okolišu. Proces lokalne adaptacije koji se odvija kao posljedica
promjena okolišnih uvjeta, dovodi do razvoja novih funkcionalnih karakteristika. Taj fenomen,
poznat kao adaptivna divergencija, doprinosi bioraznolikosti, te može sudjelovati i u razvoju novih
vrsta. Epigenetski mehanizmi su ključni u regulaciji ekspresije gena. Metilacija DNA i
modifikacija histona utječu na strukturu kromatina čime se vrši kontrola transkripcije, što
posljedično može utjecati i na fenotipske, fenološke, fiziološke i druge osobine. Mogućnost
nasljeđivanja epigenetskih promjena kod biljaka utječe na proces adaptacije, te posljedično i samu
evoluciju.
Za proučavanje epigenetskih mehanizama u biljaka koristi se više različitih metoda, a one
modernije uglavnom su bazirane na bisulfitnoj konverziji nemetiliranog citozina u uracil, te
sekvenciranju sljedeće generacije. Ovaj rad sadrži pregled odabranih istraživanja o važnosti
epigenetike na evolucijske i adaptivne procese u biljkama. Raspravlja se o važnosti epigenetskih
promjena u odgovoru biljaka na različite tipove okolišnog stresa, njihovoj ulozi u procesu
hibridizacije, te transgeneracijskom prijenosu epigenetskih modifikacija, tzv. epigenetskom
pamćenj

Abstract (english)

Through evolutionary mechanisms, populations have acquired traits necessary for survival in a
particular environment. The process of local adaptation, driven by changes in environmental
conditions, leads to the evolution of new functional traits. This phenomenon, known as adaptive
divergence, contributes to biological diversity and may also play a role in the emergence of new
species. Epigenetic mechanisms play a critical role in regulating gene expression. DNA
methylation and histone modifications affect chromatin structure to control transcription, which
in turn can affect phenotypic, phenological, physiological, and other traits. The inheritance of
epigenetic modifications in plants affects the adaptation process and consequently evolution
itself.
Various methods are used to study epigenetic mechanisms in plants, with modern methods
mainly based on bisulfite conversion of unmethylated cytosine to uracil and next-generation
sequencing. This paper reviews selected research on the importance of epigenetics for
evolutionary and adaptive processes in plants. It discusses the importance of epigenetic changes
in a plant's response to different types of environmental stress, their role in hybridization, and the
transgenerational transmission of epigenetic changes, known as epigenetic memory.

• Keywords: divergencija; prilagodba; metilacija DNA; struktura kromatina; ekspresija gena
• Keywords (english): divergence; adaptation; DNA methylation; chromatin structure; gene expression
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:954154
• Project: Number: IP-2020-02-8099; Title: Livadni procjepak (Chouardia litardierei, Hyacinthaceae) kao istraživački sustav ekološke divergencije; Title: Amethyst meadow squill (Chouardia litardierei, Hyacinthaceae): a study system for ecological divergence; Acronym: AMS-EcolDiv; Leader: Ivan Radosavljević; Jurisdiction: Croatia; Funder: HRZZ; Funding stream: IP
• Study programme: Title: Environmental Sciences; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-09-26 13:01:09