The duration of epigenetic responses underpinning transgenerational inheritance is determined by an active mechanism relying on the production of small RNAs and modulation of RNAi factors, dictating whether ancestral RNAi responses would be memorized or forgotten (credit: Leah Houri-Ze’evi et al./Cell)
According to epigenetics — the study of inheritable changes in gene expression not directly coded in our DNA — our life experiences may be passed on to our children and our children’s children. Studies on survivors of traumatic events have suggested that exposure to stress may indeed have lasting effects on subsequent generations.
But exactly how are these genetic “memories” passed on?
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