Science AMA Series: We’re researchers at the NNF Center for Basic
Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen. We recently published a
study showing that obesity may be inherited through epigenetic mo
Abstract
Hello Reddit! We are Ida Donkin, Soetkin Versteyhe, Lars R. Ingerslev,
and Romain Barrès from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic
Metabolic Research. We recently published a study that shows that sperm
from obese men carry a distinct epigenetic signature compared to lean
men, in particular at genes controlling brain development and function.
In addition, we also looked at gastric bypass patients before and after
surgery, and found that the sperm methylome is remodeled notably at gene
regions implicated in the central control of appetite. Please Ask Us
Anything! We will start answering questions at 1 pm EST (19:00 CET).
EDIT 3.20 PM EST: Thank you so much for all the great questions! We’re
signing off now, but we’ll check in again tomorrow for a few follow-up
questions. Again, thanks guys! ANOTHER EDIT: The story behind the AMA
here: http://www.museion.ku.dk/2015/12/reddit-science-ama/ Links: The
actual paper:
http://www.cell.com/pb-assets/journals/research/cell-metabolism/on/cmet1935_r.pdf
NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/08/science/parents-may-pass-down-more-than-just-genes-study-suggests.html
The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/dec/03/overweight-men-may-pass-genetic-obesity-risk-to-their-children
Our research group:
http://metabol.ku.dk/research/section-for-integrative-physiology/environmental-epigenetics/