Meet the editor

Dr. Rosaria Meccariello obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, and a PhD in Comparative Endocrinology from the University of Padova, Italy. Currently, she is Associate Professor of Biology at the Department of Movement and Wellness Sciences at the University of Naples "Parthenope," Italy. She has published more than 130 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, books, proceedings and abstract books. She has experience as a reviewer for international journals and has served as an editor for scientific books, special issues and e-books. Dr. Meccariello is an expert in biology of reproduction, spermatogenesis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis, central and local activity of GnRH, endocannabinoid and kisspeptin systems, and epigenetics.

Contents

*by Rosaria Meccariello*

*by Apiwat Mutirangura*

**Preface III**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 7**

**Chapter 3 21**

**Chapter 4 43**

**Chapter 5 65** A Hypothesis to Explain How the DNA of Elderly People Is Prone to Damage: Genome-Wide Hypomethylation Drives Genomic Instability in the Elderly by

A Landscape of Epigenetic Regulation by MicroRNAs to the Hallmarks of Cancer and Cachexia: Implications of Physical Activity to Tumor Regression *by Gabriel Cardial Tobias, João Lucas Penteado Gomes, Ursula Paula Renó Soci,* 

Consequences of Artificial Light at Night: The Linkage between Chasing

*by Abraham Haim, Sinam Boynao and Abed Elsalam Zubidat*

Reducing Youth-Associated Gnome-Stabilizing DNA Gaps

Introductory Chapter: Epigenetics in Summary

*by Garima Singroha and Pradeep Sharma*

Epigenetic Modifications in Plants under Abiotic Stress

*Tiago Fernandes and Edilamar Menezes de Oliveira*

Darkness Away and Epigenetic Modifications

## Contents


Preface

Epigenetic changes are heritable and reversible modifications that significantly affect gene expression without any change in DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, imprinting, chromatin remodelling via histone modifications, and the production of specific non-coding RNA. The epigenetic signature is remodelled during the lifespan as a direct consequence of both environment and lifestyle. Therefore, health or disease status strongly depends on epigenetic marks. In addition, the epigenetic signature of gametes and parental experience may cause transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, thus affecting offspring health. Lastly, emerging evidence reveals that epigenetic marks, and in particular circulating non-coding RNAs, represent upcoming biomarkers for the prevention, diagno-

This book summarizes the current knowledge in the field of epigenetics in five chapters. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to epigenetics and is followed by a study on epigenetics in plants (Chapter 2) and three chapters concerning epigenetics in health and disease: cancer (Chapter 3), the photoperiodic system

Chapter 2 by Drs. Singroha and Sharma describes the epigenetic regulation of the plant genome, focusing on the epigenetic modifications in plants under abiotic

Environmental factors and lifestyle both affect epigenetic marks. Thus, Chapter 3 by Dr. Tobias et al. analyses the role of microRNAs in cancer and cachexia, pointing

Chapter 4 by Dr. Haim et al. describes the consequences of artificial light at night and the links between chasing darkness away and epigenetic modifications.

Lastly, Chapter 5 by Dr. Mutirangura presents an interesting hypothesis for aging based on genome-wide hypomethylation. Such a condition may cause genomic instability and aging-associated disease phenotypes, thus explaining how the DNA

Taken together, the chapters in this book target a wide audience of basic and clinical scientists, teachers and students interested in gaining a better understanding of

**Rosaria Meccariello**

Italy

University of Naples Parthenope,

out the possible contribution of physical activity to tumor regression.

sis and treatment of diseases.

(Chapter 4) and aging (Chapter 5).

of elderly people is prone to damage.

stress.

epigenetics.
