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Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

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Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
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Epigenetic Regulation01:46

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Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
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Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

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Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
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Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

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Epigenetics is the study of inherited changes in a cell's phenotype without changing the DNA sequences. It provides a form of memory for the differential gene expression pattern to maintain cell lineage, position-effect variegation, dosage compensation, and maintenance of chromatin structures such as telomeres and centromeres. For example, the structure and location of the centromere on chromosomes are epigenetically inherited. Its functionality is not dictated or ensured by the underlying...
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Inheritance01:25

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Gregor Mendel's pioneering work on the principles of inheritance fundamentally transformed our understanding of how traits are transmitted from generation to generation. His experiments with pea plants laid the groundwork for the discovery of genes, discrete units within organisms that control heredity.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
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Epigenetics and Future Generations.

Lorenzo Del Savio, Michele Loi, Elia Stupka

    Bioethics
    |February 4, 2015
    PubMed
    Summary

    Lifestyle choices like smoking can impact future generations through epigenetic programming. This research explores rights-based obligations for current generations to protect the health of non-existing people.

    Area of Science:

    • Public Health
    • Epigenetics
    • Bioethics

    Background:

    • Intergenerational epigenetic programming links lifestyle choices to disease risk in future generations.
    • Public health interventions may need to consider the well-being of non-existing people.
    • The non-identity argument poses a challenge to policies affecting future generations' identity and number.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore rights-based obligations for current generations concerning intergenerational epigenetic programming.
    • To address whether ethical obligations extend to non-existing individuals affected by epigenetic inheritance.
    • To examine the implications of epigenetic programming for public health policy and distributive justice.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical analysis of rights-based obligations.
    Keywords:
    epigeneticsintergenerational justicenon-identity problem

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  • Ethical reasoning regarding intergenerational justice.
  • Exploration of distributive principles like equal opportunity for well-being.

    • Main Results:

    • Rights-based obligations may arise for existing generations towards non-existing people due to epigenetic programming.
    • Overlapping generations (F1) may incur costs managing health issues in F2 caused by F0's environmental exposures.
    • Distributive principles can ground obligations on F0 to mitigate future health burdens on F2.

    Conclusions:

    • Intergenerational epigenetic programming creates ethical considerations beyond traditional public health.
    • Existing generations may have obligations to protect the health of future generations, even non-existing ones.
    • Ethical frameworks must adapt to address the long-term health consequences of epigenetic inheritance.