International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 54-61 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 54 Research Report Open Access The Relationship between Epigenetic Changes and Seasonal Changes in Rabbits Mengshi Jiang Shangyu Angehua Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shangyu, 312300, China Corresponding author email: 1624454379@qq.com International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0007 Received: 12 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 17 Feb., 2024 Published: 29 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Jiang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Jiang M.S., 2024, The relationship between epigenetic changes and seasonal changes in rabbits, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 14(1): 54-61 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0007) Abstract This study explores the close relationship between epigenetic changes and seasonal changes in rabbits. Through in-depth analysis of the epigenome of rabbits in different seasons, the researchers found that there are significant differences in the epigenome of rabbits in winter and summer, indicating that seasonal changes may be a key factor driving epigenetic changes in rabbits. one. Further research revealed the impact of seasonal changes on rabbit gene expression, showing that the expression levels of genes related to adaptation to low-temperature environments increased in the cold season, while other genes showed different expression patterns in the hot summer. Research limitations are mainly reflected in the limited geographical scope and sample size. Future research can understand the epigenetic changes of rabbits in different seasons from a more comprehensive perspective by expanding the research scope and introducing more regional data. In addition, future research can also be expanded to spring and autumn, as well as under different climate conditions, to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of seasonal changes on rabbit epigenetics. Finally, this research is not only of great significance to understanding rabbit biology, but also provides some useful inspirations for ecology and agriculture, and provides theoretical support for animal protection and animal husbandry. Keywords Rabbits; Epigenetic changes; Seasonal variations; Gene expression; Ecology Epigenetics is a cutting-edge scientific field that studies gene expression and inheritance. It goes beyond traditional genomics and focuses on the exploration of non-coding genetic changes. Unlike changes in the DNA sequence itself, epigenetics focuses on non-coding changes that are closely related to DNA, including mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. These epigenetic changes play a key role in regulating gene expression, thereby affecting an organism's traits and adaptability. As a ubiquitous natural phenomenon on the earth, seasonal changes have a profound impact on the physiological processes of living organisms. Seasonal changes in climate, light, food supply, and ecosystems drive organisms to adapt to different seasonal environments. In this context, it becomes particularly important to study the relationship between seasonal changes and epigenetic changes. Many organisms show adaptive physiological and behavioral changes in the face of seasonal changes, and these changes may be realized through epigenetic regulation (An et al., 2021). The main purpose of this study is to deeply explore the impact of seasonal changes on epigenetic regulation of organisms, using rabbits as the research object. As a mammal, rabbits have excellent reproductive capabilities and survival adaptability. They show obvious behavioral and physiological changes in different seasons, such as changes in reproductive behavior, food intake, hair color, etc. The relationship between these seasonal adaptations and epigenetic changes is a focus of researchers. By studying the epigenetic characteristics of rabbits in different seasons, this study hopes to reveal how seasonal changes regulate the expression of rabbit genes, thereby affecting their physiology, behavior and ecological adaptability. It is expected that this research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptation mechanism of organisms in seasonal environments and provide new theoretical foundations and application prospects for ecology, agriculture and wildlife conservation. By in-depth studying the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of rabbits as a model organism under seasonal changes, this study is expected to provide new insights into unlocking the mysteries of seasonal adaptation and provide strong support for research and practice in related fields.
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