Variation in DNA methylation patterns more common among maize inbreds than among tissues

Epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation can act as heritable marks on a genome leading to unique regulation of genomic sequences. As a transient mark, DNA methylation has been identified as a possible mechanism for reversible genetic regulation of cells derived through either mitotic or meiotic cellular division. Although variation between epigenetic states is known to exist between individuals, there is little known about the variability of DNA methylation patterns between different developmental stages of an individual. We have assessed genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in four tissues of two inbred maize lines: B73 and Mo17. Although hundreds of regions of differential methylation are present between the two genotypes, few examples of tissue-specific DNA methylation variation were observed. The lack of clear epigenetic variation between tissues indicates the limited impact of DNA methylation on developmental processes within maize.

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