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Unravelling the complex mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Blake, Georgina Et 
Watson, Erica D 

Abstract

There are numerous benefits to elucidating how our environment affects our health: from a greater understanding of adaptation to disease prevention. Evidence shows that stressors we are exposed to during our lifetime might cause disease in our descendants. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance involves the transmission of 'information' over multiple generations via the gametes independent of the DNA base sequence. Despite extensive research, the epigenetic mechanisms remain unclear. Analysis of model organisms exposed to environmental insults (e.g., diet manipulation, stress, toxin exposure) or carrying mutations in the epigenetic regulatory machinery indicates that inheritance of altered DNA methylation, histone modifications, or non-coding RNAs are key mechanisms. Tracking inherited epigenetic information and its effects for multiple generations is a significant challenge to overcome.

Description

Keywords

Animals, DNA Methylation, DNA Transposable Elements, Epigenesis, Genetic, Histones, Humans, RNA, Untranslated, Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid

Journal Title

Curr Opin Chem Biol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1367-5931
1879-0402

Volume Title

33

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine
G.E.T.B. is supported by a studentship from the Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme in Developmental Mechanisms. E.D.W. is a Lister Research Prize fellow and was supported by an Isaac Newton Trust/Wellcome Trust ISSF/University of Cambridge joint research grant.