For over 100 years, cancer radiation therapy has provided patients with increased
survival rates. Despite this success, radiation exposure poses a threat to the progeny of
exposed parents. It causes transgenerational genome instability that is linked to
transgenerational carcinogenesis. The exact mechanisms in which this instability occurs
have yet to be discovered. Current evidence points to their epigenetic nature, specifically
changes in DNA methylation.
Using mouse and rat models, this thesis investigated the transgenerational effects
of radiation in the offspring from parents who received whole body or localized exposure
to ionizing radiation (IR). Both types of exposure resulted in significant global DNA
hypomethylation in the somatic tissues of the progeny. These changes were paralleled by
the significantly decreased levels of methyltransferases and methyl-CpG-binding protein.
In summary, our results suggest that both localized and whole body parental
exposures to IR result in transgenerational epigenetic instability within the unexposed
offspring. / vii, 106 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/650 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Baker, Mike, University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science |
| Contributors | Kovalchuk, Olga |
| Publisher | Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2008, Arts and Science, Department of Biological Sciences |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Thesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science) |
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