Meeting Abstract

S2-2.1  Friday, Jan. 4  Epigenetic mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity RICHARDS, CL*; BORUTA, Martyna; BOSSDORF, Oliver; COON, Courtney AC; FOUST, Christy M; HUGHES, A Randall; KILVITIS, Holly J; LIEBL, Andrea L; NICOTRA, Adrienne B; PIGLIUCCI, Massimo; ROBERTSON, Marta H; SCHREY, Aaron W; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of Bern; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of South Florida; Florida State Univ.; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of South Florida; Australian National Univ.; City Univ. of New York; Univ. of South Florida; Armstrong Atlantic State Univ. clr@usf.edu

Our understanding of the translation of genotype to phenotype is still in its infancy, but the ability of an organism to express plasticity in a given trait must be mediated at the molecular level. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, can result in different phenotypes from the same genotype and therefore fit a classic definition of phenotypic plasticity. However, demonstrating a role of molecular epigenetics in phenotypic plasticity is difficult, especially in natural populations. We present conceptual issues related to measuring phenotypic plasticity and discuss designs that have been used to explore phenotypic plasticity at different levels of organization from the genotype to the species level. Further, we explore the difficulties of linking plasticity and epigenetic effects by presenting data from several plant and animal systems. Our data suggest that differential DNA methylation can contribute to an organism’s ability to elicit a variable phenotype. However, deciphering the relationship between phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic variation will require manipulative studies that isolate specific epigenetic changes and their phenotypic effects.