Integrating Epigenetic Data with Anthropological Research. Day/Time: Wed, March 27, 1PM-5PM; Description: This workshop aims to provide resources to anthropologists interested in pursuing and engaging with anthropological epigenetics research. Organizers: Genevieve Housman, U of Chicago ([email protected]); Chris Barrett, University of Kansas ([email protected]), Ainash Childebayeva, University of Michigan ([email protected]), Mary Rogers, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign ([email protected]). 

Description: This workshop will explore best practices for incorporating epigenetic data into anthropological research. Epigenetic mechanisms, which are situated between the environment and the genome, comprise molecular modifications that regulate gene expression without altering the underlying genetic code. Specifically, this workshop will review the background of what epigenetic markers can be studied and why they may be of interest to anthropologists. Additionally, we will provide a detailed overview of current practices in designing epigenetic experiments, covering sampling methods, tissue selection, sample size considerations, and laboratory techniques. Lastly, we will conclude with a discussion about downstream computational methods and publicly available data repositories that can be used for comparative analyses and enhanced data interpretations.

 

These topics will be covered through a combination of lectures (approximately 30 minutes each), group discussions, and optional hands-on activities. We encourage participants to bring their own computers (with sufficiently large memory space available and programs such as R installed) to best engage in optional data analysis exercises.

 

Overall, this workshop aims to provide anthropologists that are interested in studying epigenetic mechanisms with the tools to begin designing and implementing such research. It will also serve as a networking opportunity for attendees to meet researchers currently studying epigenetic mechanisms. This workshop will supplement the 2019 AAPA epigenetics symposium (Epigenetics: Bridging cultural and biological anthropology) and will help scholars to more critically evaluate and understand the epigenetics research that will be presented. In summary, this workshop aims to provide resources to anthropologists interested in pursuing and engaging with anthropological epigenetics research.

 

Audience: Anthropologists interested in pursuing and engaging with anthropological epigenetics research