Epigenetics is the study of chemical tags bound to the DNA which affect the way our genes 'behave'. The best known of these is DNA methylation (DNAme). DNAme may be important in helping species to adjust to different environments by allowing genes to be switched on or off. Trees may especially benefit from DNAme as they may experience many different conditions over their lifetimes. However, we know very little about DNAme in trees and how it may help them cope with various stresses. EpiBet aims to fill this knowledge gap. Focusing on silver birch (Betula pendula), it will investigate the degree to which DNAme is variable across natural birch populations and specifically how it responds to drought. Crucially, EpiBet will combine patterns of DNAme with measurements of leaf stomata – the pores that control the transit of water vapour from the plant – from a large number of trees, enabling us to see whether DNAme can act as a control switch for this vital aspect of leaf development.

2025

2029