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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
08:58
Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
Published on: July 29, 2019
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Radiation-induced transgenerational effects in animals.
Yuri E Dubrova1, Elena I Sarapultseva2,3
1Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
International Journal of Radiation Biology
|July 14, 2020
Summary
Parental exposure to ionizing radiation can cause epigenetic changes, affecting the health and genetic stability of unexposed offspring across generations. These transgenerational effects highlight the long-term impact of radiation beyond direct exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Parental exposure to ionizing radiation can induce genetic mutations.
- Recent studies indicate effects extend to non-exposed offspring, suggesting transgenerational impacts.
- These effects are epigenetic, not direct phenotypic transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review laboratory studies on transgenerational effects of parental irradiation.
- To evaluate impacts on offspring viability, fertility, and genome stability.
- To discuss the epigenetic nature of these radiation-induced effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing laboratory animal studies.
- Analysis of data on offspring health and genetic parameters.
- Discussion of epigenetic mechanisms and transgenerational inheritance.
Main Results:
- Parental irradiation leads to compromised viability in non-exposed offspring.
- Reduced fertility is observed in subsequent generations.
- Genome instability is a significant finding in offspring of irradiated parents.
Conclusions:
- Radiation-induced transgenerational effects are an established epigenetic phenomenon in laboratory settings.
- Further research is needed to understand these effects in human populations near contamination.
- Investigating the underlying mechanisms of transgenerational effects is crucial.
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