article · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
In most mammals, early-life adversity, including maternal loss is associated with shorter lifespans and widespread epigenetic alterations. In contrast, we found that orphaned African savanna elephants exhibited a younger epigenetic age compared to non-orphans and showed only a weak distinct epigenetic signature. This unexpected pattern may reflect environmental influences, such as living under human care, or evolutionary adaptations that buffer against epigenetic instability. If the latter is confirmed, such mechanisms could confer resilience to the epigenetic consequences of early-life adversity.
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DOI: 10.64898/2026.04.03.716431
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