Genes, Experiences and Development
Neurobehavioral development proceeds according to exceedingly elegant and precisely timed interactions between the genome and the environment. During critical periods of prenatal and early postnatal development, even the slightest variability in the coordination between the genome and the environment results in some of the breathtaking neurobehavioral variability we observe in individuals. We study the effects of genes and early experiences, such as parent-offspring relationships, resource availability, or social climate, on genome function, brain development, behavior, and health.
Transgenerational Effects of Stress
The effects of early experiences may not be limited to the exposed generation, but also influence development in subsequent generations. Identifying the routes of transgenerational inheritance of the effects of early stress may help us understand why some stress-related traits and diseases run in families. Mechanisms of transgenerational effects of parental early experiences on offspring development are often attributed to prenatal or postnatal parental influence, but recent data suggest that germ-line plasticity may also play a role in the transgenerational effects of early experiences. We study the complex routes of transgenerational effects of early life stress via the paternal and maternal lines.
