Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

367
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
367
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

34.7K
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.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
34.7K
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

3.1K
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...
3.1K
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures03:17

Inheritance of Chromatin Structures

6.3K
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...
6.3K
Inheritance01:25

Inheritance

425
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.
Each gene exists in pairs, and the combination of these genes from both parents forms an individual's genotype. This genotype is a blueprint of potential traits. Examples of genotype...
425
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

6.6K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Environmental Transgenerational Epigenetics: Effects on Fertility and Offspring Health.

Advances in experimental medicine and biology·2026
Same author

Environmental Epigenetics 2026 Update.

Environmental epigenetics·2026
Same author

Stability of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset disease and parturition abnormalities.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Generational stability of environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adult-onset disease over ten mammalian generations.

Environmental epigenetics·2025
Same author

Environmental Epigenetics 2025 update.

Environmental epigenetics·2025
Same author

Epigenetic biomarker for preeclampsia-associated preterm birth and potential preventative medicine.

Environmental epigenetics·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans
10:28

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans

Published on: May 5, 2023

3.9K

Epigenetic Inheritance and Transgenerational Environmental Justice.

Alexandra A Korolenko1, Samantha E Noll2, Michael K Skinner1

  • 1Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.

The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine
|July 3, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Environmental toxicants harm future generations more than the directly exposed, impacting health through epigenetic inheritance. This highlights critical environmental justice concerns regarding ancestral exposure and equitable protection.

Keywords:
Biomedical EthicsDDTEnvironmental JusticeEpigeneticsGenerational ToxicologyGlyphosateInheritanceToxicantsTransgenerationalVinclozolin

More Related Videos

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
08:58

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants

Published on: July 29, 2019

6.8K
Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
13:11

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

Published on: July 12, 2012

18.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans
10:28

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans

Published on: May 5, 2023

3.9K
Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants
08:58

Using Caenorhabditis elegans for Studying Trans- and Multi-Generational Effects of Toxicants

Published on: July 29, 2019

6.8K
Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain
13:11

Optimized Analysis of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression from Small, Anatomically-defined Areas of the Brain

Published on: July 12, 2012

18.8K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Daily release of chemicals and toxicants into the environment poses risks to human health.
  • Agricultural compounds, while beneficial for crop production, can lead to adverse health outcomes, including reproductive issues.
  • Some chemicals banned in the EU are still in use in the US, raising regulatory and health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential impact of toxicants on directly exposed versus transgenerational populations.
  • To examine the role of epigenetic inheritance in mediating toxicant effects across generations.
  • To underscore the significance of environmental justice in the context of ancestral toxicant exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on toxicant exposure and health impacts.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on epigenetic inheritance mechanisms.
  • Examination of the concept of environmental justice in relation to intergenerational health disparities.

Main Results:

  • Toxicants often exhibit more profound effects on transgenerational (ancestral) populations than on directly exposed generations.
  • Epigenetic inheritance plays a crucial role in transmitting toxicant-induced health effects across generations.
  • Prioritization of research on directly exposed populations may overlook significant long-term health burdens on subsequent generations.

Conclusions:

  • Transgenerational exposure to toxicants presents a significant environmental justice issue, as future generations may suffer health consequences without benefiting from the production processes.
  • Current research paradigms may not adequately address the long-term, intergenerational impacts of environmental toxicants.
  • Urgent consideration of environmental justice principles is needed to protect future generations from disproportionate harm caused by ancestral exposure to harmful chemicals.