Hypotheses

The major hypothesis is that there are environmental factors, hitherto unsuspected, that have an effect on the risk of preterm delivery. It is anticipated that such environmental effects may interact with the genetic markers of mother and/or fetus, or work through DNA methylation.

Specific aims will determine, using a hypothesis free approach, whether any of the following are associated independently with preterm delivery: lifestyle of parents and grandparents (including smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, caffeine and activity levels); other physical exposures (medications, diet, work-based chemicals, noise, radiation); psychosocial features of parents and grandparents (including stressors based on life events, social circumstances, financial difficulties, domestic abuse, abuse of the parents in childhood); and mental and physical health of parents and grandparents. For all relationships identified, assessments will be made concerning relevant genetic and epigenetic associations, and their interaction with the exposures.