The epigenomic landscape of African rainforest hunter-gatherers and farmers

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10047
• Publication Date: 2015-11-30T11:20:18Z
• Authors: Maud Fagny; Etienne Patin; Julia L. MacIsaac; Maxime Rotival; Timothée Flutre; Meaghan J. Jones; Katherine J. Siddle; Hélène Quach; Christine Harmant; Lisa M. McEwen; Alain Froment; Evelyne Heyer; Antoine Gessain; Edouard Betsem; Patrick Mouguiama...; Jean-Marie Hombert; George H. Perry; Luis B. Barreiro; Michael S. Kobor; Lluis Quintana-Murci
• Keywords: Epigenomics; Epigenome; Variation (astronomy)

Abstract The genetic history of African populations is increasingly well documented, yet their patterns epigenomic variation remain uncharacterized. Moreover, the relative impacts DNA sequence and temporal changes in lifestyle habitat on human epigenome unknown. Here we generate genome-wide genotype methylation profiles for 362 rainforest hunter-gatherers sedentary farmers. We find that current historical a population have similarly critical methylome, but biological functions affected strongly differ. Specifically, associated with recent mostly concerns immune cellular functions, whereas affects developmental processes. Furthermore, variation—particularly correlated lifestyle—shows strong associations nearby variants that, moreover, are enriched signals natural selection. Our work provides new insight into environmental factors affecting landscape over time.