Study of Assisted Reproductive Technology (START) – Epigenic mechanisms

Summary

Fertility has changed in the industrialized countries in recent decades. One of the changes is that the population is having children at an older age and there is increased use of assisted reproduction (ART). In order to examine the health consequences of ART for parents and children, this study will use questionnaire information and biological material collected in the Norwegian Mother and Child survey. Subfertility and ART are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased risk of disease in children and parents, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

One proposed mechanism is that ART procedures may contribute to epigenetic differences and possibly an altered expression of the genes. The project will investigate whether there are differences in epigenetic markers linked to ART. In order to understand the epigenetic effects, it is also important to have genetic data. We will investigate what role the genes have in sub-fertility and pregnancy and how the genes affect the epigenetic mechanisms.

Furthermore, we will investigate what can affect epigenetic markers, heredity and the role of genes and how this is connected to development and health, and how this is connected to ART.