Moreover, they have shown that, through
differential patterns of DNA
methylation of the
promoter region and thereby
differential expression of the estrogen receptor alpha gene in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the brain, this individual variation of early experience influences adult reproductive behaviour, suggesting a mechanism for intergenerational transmission of the pattern of maternal care [137, 138].
Importantly, we have recently shown that
differential DNA
methylation of the serotonin transporter gene
promoter (SLC6A4) in T cells and monocytes is associated with in vivo measures of human brain serotonin synthesis and childhood limited physical aggression in men [46].