reinhard stöger / stoegerlab.com
about our research
"It's all in the genes" is a common phrase used to explain that a person's traits and predispositions are inherited.
We now know that the DNA sequence of an individual does not tell the whole story.
Our lab investigates how developmental and environmental factors shape the “epigenome”— the intricate ways in which genes are "programmed" within our cells. A key focus of our research is on DNA modifications that influence gene expression.
Environmental influences play a role in epigenetic programming, especially during critical periods of development. Changes in early life can impact disease risk in adulthood.
We seek to answer important questions such as:
-
How stable is epigenetic information, and how fast does it change as we age?
-
How are these processes influenced by developmental and environmental factors?
-
How is epigenetic information passed down through generations via the germ line?
-
In what ways does metabolism impact the epigenome?
To explore these questions, we study a wide range of systems and organisms, ranging from embryonic stem cells, and honey bees to humans.
