ABSTRACT
The opossum (Monodelphis domestica), with its sequenced genome, ease of laboratory care and experimental manipulation, and unique biology, is the most used laboratory marsupial. Using the mammalian methylation array, we generated DNA methylation data from n=100 opossum tissues including blood, liver, and tail. We contrast age-related changes in the opossum methylome to those of C57BL/6J mice. We present several epigenetic clocks for opossums that are distinguished by their compatibility with tissue type (pan-tissue and blood clock) and species (opossum and human). Two dual-species human-opossum pan-tissue clocks accurately measure chronological age and relative age, respectively. These human-opossum epigenetic clocks are expected to provide a significant boost to the attractiveness of opossum as a biological model.
Competing Interest Statement
SH is a founder of the non-profit Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation which plans to license several of his patents from his employer UC Regents. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Footnotes
↵# Joint first author
Emails:, shorvath{at}mednet.ucla.edu, ahaghani{at}g.ucla.edu, jaz18{at}g.ucla.edu, ken.raj{at}phe.gov.uk, ishanisnh1{at}gmail.com, annaistalbott08{at}gmail.com, yadiamaris.aviles{at}upr.edu, ksears{at}ucla.edu