Adaptation and changing phenotypes through transgenerational epigenetics

TL;DR

This paper collection explores how epigenetic changes in DNA can be passed across generations, affecting gene expression and contributing to evolution and disease inheritance.

Contribution

The novelty lies in highlighting the role of transgenerational epigenetics in phenotype adaptation and disease inheritance across eukaryotic organisms.

Findings

Noncoding epigenetic changes in DNA are transmitted across generations in plants and invertebrates.

Epigenetic inheritance is increasingly recognized in humans and vertebrates.

Transgenerational epigenetics may contribute to evolution and the inheritance of diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

In this article collection, we describe how noncoding epigenetic changes in DNA are transmitted across multiple generations in eukaryotic organisms including plants and animals. And such environmentally induced biochemical alterations of DNA and histones result in profound changes in gene expression. In plants and invertebrate animals, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance has been well documented, and it continues to be substantiated in humans and other vertebrates. These exciting new discoveries have profound consequences for changing as well as maintaining phenotypes expressed by various life forms and, thus, the changes likely contribute to evolution. And in a more practical way, such studies are very important because of the likely transgenerational inheritance of diseases and disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity.