“…Not surprisingly, epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and chromatin modifications during gestation may contribute to diverse plasticity including oral clefts, congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorder, allergies and cancer (Barua & Junaid, 2015). Along the same line, environmental factors experienced during early stages of development, including the intrauterine and neonatal periods, are believed to predispose individuals to the elevated prevalence of metabolic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (Jimenez-Chillaron et al, 2016).…”