Tronick Ed, Hunter Richard G
Developmental and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Psychology Boston, MA, USA.
Front Behav Neurosci. 2016 Jun 10;10:107. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00107. eCollection 2016.
Waddington coined the term "epigenetic" to attempt to explain the complex, dynamic interactions between the developmental environment and the genome that led to the production of phenotype. Waddington's thoughts on the importance of both adaptability and canalization of phenotypic development are worth recalling as well, as they emphasize the available range for epigenetic action and the importance of environmental feedback (or lack thereof) in the development of complex traits. We suggest that a dynamic systems view fits well with Waddington's conception of epigenetics in the developmental context, as well as shedding light on the study of the molecular epigenetic effects of the environment on brain and behavior. Further, the dynamic systems view emphasizes the importance of the multi-directional interchange between the organism, the genome and various aspects of the environment to the ultimate phenotype.
沃丁顿创造了“表观遗传”这个术语，试图解释发育环境与基因组之间复杂、动态的相互作用，正是这些相互作用导致了表型的产生。沃丁顿关于表型发育的适应性和定向化重要性的观点也值得回顾，因为它们强调了表观遗传作用的可用范围以及环境反馈（或缺乏环境反馈）在复杂性状发育中的重要性。我们认为，动态系统观点与沃丁顿在发育背景下的表观遗传学概念非常契合，同时也为研究环境对大脑和行为的分子表观遗传效应提供了启示。此外，动态系统观点强调了生物体、基因组和环境各方面之间多向交互作用对最终表型的重要性。
