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Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: myths and mechanisms.

Edith Heard1, Robert A Martienssen2

  • 1Mammalian Developmental Epigenetics Group, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR 3215, INSERM U934, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France; Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin-Berthelot, Paris 75005, France.

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Environmental factors can influence gene expression and health, but whether these epigenetic changes are passed to descendants in humans is still unclear, despite evidence in plants.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • The sequencing of the human genome sparked interest in epigenetics, exploring influences beyond genetic code.
  • Epigenetics investigates how environmental factors like diet, air quality, and emotions may affect gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the potential for environmental factors to influence gene expression.
  • To clarify the extent of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current scientific literature on epigenetics and environmental influences.
  • Analysis of studies investigating epigenetic inheritance in plants and humans.

Main Results:

  • Environmental factors demonstrably influence gene expression and can contribute to disease.
  • Epigenetic character inheritance is confirmed in plants.
  • The extent of environmentally induced transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans remains largely undetermined.

Conclusions:

  • While environmental factors impact gene expression, their transgenerational effects in humans require further investigation.
  • More research is needed to understand the mechanisms and prevalence of human transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.