Epigenetic age estimation of wild mice using faecal samples

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.17330
• Publication Date: 2024-04-02T05:36:23Z
• Authors: Eveliina Hanski; Susan Joseph; Aura Raulo; Klara M. Wanelik; Áine O'Toole; Sarah C. L. Knowles; Tom J. Little
• Keywords: CpG site

Abstract Age is a key parameter in population ecology, with myriad of biological processes changing age as organisms develop early life then later senesce. As often hard to accurately measure non‐lethal methods, epigenetic methods estimation (epigenetic clocks) have become popular tool animal ecology and are developed or calibrated using captive animals known age. However, studies typically rely on invasive blood tissue samples, which limit their application more sensitive elusive species. Moreover, few directly assessed how methylation patterns estimates compare across environmental contexts (e.g. laboratory‐based vs. wild animals). Here, we built targeted clock from laboratory house mice (strain C57BL/6, Mus musculus ) DNA non‐invasive faecal used it estimate ( domesticus unknown This mouse‐derived predicted adult be older than juveniles showed that increased over time, but wide variation ageing rate among individuals. Our results also suggested that, for given body mass, had higher CpG sites (and consistently result), even the smallest, juvenile mice. suggests may display different levels very indicates caution needed when developing clocks applying them wild.