THE PROBLEM OF THE SELECTION OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL IN THE EPYGENETIC RESEARCH OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Authors

  • I. V. Feklicheva Author
  • N. A. Chipeeva Author
  • Yu. V. Kovas Author
  • E. L. Soldatova Author

Abstract

Brain tissue during life is directly inaccessible to epigenetic studies of psychological characteristics and psychopathologies, so it is necessary to assess which peripheral tissues are most appropriate for achieving the goals of such studies. The article presents the analysis of publications comparing methylation DNA profile in various peripheral tissues (whole and umbilical blood, placenta, sperm, buccal epithelium) and postmortal brain tissue. The results of the analysis suggest that for studying the role of epigenetic factors in psychological phenotypes, saliva is the more preferred material for DNA isolation and subsequent analysis of DNA methylation compared to blood cells. At the same time, it was established that different tissues can be optimal for different phenotypes.

Author Biographies

  • I. V. Feklicheva

    PhD in Medical sciences, Head of the laboratory of  molecular and genetic researches of man's health and development

  • N. A. Chipeeva

    psychologist, junior researcher of the laboratory of  molecular and genetic researches of man's health and development

  • Yu. V. Kovas

    PhD (Behavior Genetics), professor, Head of the laboratory of cognitive researches and psychogenetic, faculty of psychology, Tomsk State University;
    InLab (International Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Investigations into Individual Differences in Learning), faculty of psychology

  • E. L. Soldatova

    Grand PhD in Psychological sciences, professor, Dean of the faculty of psychology, Head of the department of developmental psychology

Published

2017-11-20

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Brief reports