# Genetic Variation and the Heritability of Epigenetic Responses to Temperature

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · 2020 · $23,102

## Abstract

Abstract
The capability of a genome to produce the diversity of cell types present within a single human,
or plant, is derived from the extraordinary regulatory mechanisms that have evolved to control
the transcription and translation of nucleotide to protein. Similar mechanisms have also been
coopted to allow organisms to plastically alter development in response to external
environmental conditions. Environmentally mediated shifts in developmental trajectory are often
mediated by epigenetic modifications that chemically and physically manipulate the genome,
and in turn alter the expression of genes. While changes in gene regulation due to
transcriptional cascades are often fleeting, epigenetic modifications can persist across cell
divisions, and in some cases between generations. The evolutionary and health ramifications of
epigenetic inheritance are still quite poorly understood, with a particular dearth of knowledge
regarding how genetic variation alters epigenetic responses to the environment. I propose to
leverage the rapid life cycle, vast phenotypic plasticity, genomic resources, and self-fertilizing
capability of the Mimulus laciniatus plant model system to study the interactions between
genetic variation and epigenetic inheritance. I hypothesize that local adaptation drives
divergence in the genes and regulatory regions that mediate environmentally induced
epigenetic inheritance, in turn generating natural variation in transgenerational gene
expression and phenotypic plasticity. I will test this hypothesis with the following aims:
 I. Assess the contribution of genetic variation, transgenerational inheritance, and
 environmental conditions on the regulation of gene expression, DNA methylation,
 and development.
 II. Determine the genetic basis of natural variation for transgenerational inheritance to
 temperature regimes.
III. Measure the role of transgenerational inheritance and “transgenerational x genetic”
 effects on plant survival and development in divergent field conditions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10207960
- **Project number:** 3F32GM125244-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jack Michael Colicchio
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $23,102
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10207960

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10207960, Genetic Variation and the Heritability of Epigenetic Responses to Temperature (3F32GM125244-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10207960. Licensed CC0.

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