How prenatal chemical exposure can change gene packaging passed down through generations
Chromatin contacts are germline-transmissable vehicles underlying epigenetic transgenerational inheritance
Researchers are exploring whether exposure to certain chemicals before birth changes how genes are packaged and passed to children and grandchildren, raising the chance of obesity and adult-onset diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11095904 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I learned that the team uses pregnant mice given low doses of a common chemical (TBT) and then follows their offspring for weight, fat distribution, and metabolic changes across several generations. They examine reproductive cells and tissues to see whether changes in chromatin (the way DNA is packaged) are carried in the germline and transmitted to descendants. The lab combines animal experiments with molecular tools that map chromatin contacts and gene regulation to link those changes to fat accumulation and metabolic traits. Their goal is to explain how an exposure in one generation could cause lasting effects in later generations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity, a strong family history of adult-onset diabetes, or concerns about ancestral chemical exposures (including reproductive-age adults planning pregnancy) would be most directly interested in the findings.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to metabolism or those seeking immediate clinical treatments for diabetes are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from this basic, mechanism-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms by which prenatal chemical exposures raise multi-generation risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes and point to prevention or biomarker strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Multiple animal studies have reported transgenerational effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on weight and metabolism, but the exact germline mechanisms are still debated and human evidence is limited.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blumberg, Bruce — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Blumberg, Bruce
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.