The EPIBOOST project aims to explore DNA methylation caused by environmental stressors in freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Epigenetics, which regulates gene expression and affects phenotypes, has been extensively researched for human health but less so in ecological risk assessment. Epigenetic mechanisms offer the potential for developing reliable biomarkers to detect environmental harm from contaminants. These changes are stable and can be passed down generations, impacting evolution. However, understanding the connection between epigenetic modifications (like DNA methylation) and phenotypic changes in non-human species is challenging and needs more fundamental research. The EPIBOOST project aims to explore DNA methylation caused by environmental stressors in freshwater and marine ecosystems.