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Khdc3 Regulates Metabolism Across Generations in a DNA-Independent Manner.
Liana Senaldi1,2, Nora Hassan1, Sean Cullen1,2
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|March 11, 2024
Summary
Ancestral mutations in the Khdc3 gene can cause lasting metabolic defects in descendants, even if they inherit no genetic mutation. These epigenetic changes in germ cells, like small RNAs, transmit phenotypes across generations.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Genomics
- Developmental Biology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Genetic variants in germ cells can influence offspring phenotypes without direct inheritance.
- Epigenetic mechanisms, such as small RNA profiles in gametes, are crucial for transgenerational inheritance.
- The mammalian germ cell gene Khdc3 plays a role in reproductive and developmental processes.
Conclusions:
- Ancestral mutations in Khdc3 can induce transgenerational inherited phenotypes.
- Epigenetic modifications in gametes, particularly small RNAs, are implicated in transmitting these phenotypes.
- The study reveals a novel mechanism of non-genetic inheritance affecting metabolic health across generations.
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