Abstract
AbstractThe introduction of the ‘fetal programming hypothesis’, first in epidemiology, subsequently in a broad range of disciplines concerned with developmental biology, has generated new interest in phenotypic plasticity, the mechanisms that govern it, and its place in evolutionary biology. A number of epidemiological studies link small size at birth, assumed to be a consequence of constrained prenatal energy availability, with adverse effects on the risk of chronic diseases later in life. The cluster of chronic diseases associated with the metabolic syndrome and alterations of glucose metabolism are particularly implicated. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic modification of gene expression affecting the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis may be involved in these effects. In animal studies epigenetic alteration of HPA axis activity and responsiveness is associated with changes in adult behaviour and stress responsiveness. The potential for similar effects to contribute to psychological and psychiatric outcomes in humans has been explored in a number of contexts, including famine exposure, observed covariance with birth weight, and prenatal dexamethasone treatment of fetuses at risk of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. While fetal programming effects have now been widely demonstrated across species and human populations, the adaptive significance of these effects is still a matter of debate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Highlights
The introduction of the “fetal programming hypothesis,” first in epidemiology, subsequently in a broad range of disciplines concerned with developmental biology, has generated new interest in phenotypic plasticity, the mechanisms that govern it, and its place in evolutionary biology
Rather than being a radically new concept, the ascendancy of the fetal programming hypothesis should be seen as representing a new appreciation for these kinds of effects together with a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that produce them and the significance they may play for individuals and species
The purpose of this paper is to briefly review the fetal programming hypothesis and the mechanisms thought to underlie it, to position the hypothesis in relation to psychological outcomes, and to comment on the theoretical framework that some have proposed to unite the hypothesis with cotemporary evolutionary theory
Summary
Ph.D. John Cowles Professor of Anthropology and Human Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Cambridge, MA 02138 USA. Ellison Department of Anthropology Peabody Museum Harvard University Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
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