Clemson University

Academic Institute

Diana IvankovicCristy Stagnar

B3726

The ability of environmental conditions to influence phenotypes in future generations requires that environmental exposures induce changes in the epigenome of male gametes via the transmission of aberrant sperm epigenetic marks following fertilization. Studies have demonstrated that exposure to cannabis and tobacco products alter sperm DNA methylation. Thus, it is important to investigate environmental exposures, including cigarettes and cannabis, and their effect on the male gametes during the crucial pre and periconception window. In addition, there is a need to determine whether these methylation marks are heritable and associated with health outcomes in the progeny, especially given that men are the predominant cannabis and tobacco product consumers, and their use is increasing. Our machine learning-based DNA methylation score is based on cord blood measurements of DNA methylation (Illumina’s Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip) and will reflect exposure to paternal smoking pre and during pregnancy.

A machine learning-based DNA methylation score will be useful in studies of childhood health outcomes to fill in the inevitable missing data on whether or for how long a father smoked and to validate self-reports of nonsmoking. It will also enable its implementation in adjusting epigenome-wide DNA methylation association studies for this early-life exposure.

01/03/2021