Selection on the epigenome: small RNA inheritance in animal evolution

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Genetics
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Small RNA (sRNA) inheritance is a widespread phenomenon across taxa.
• Environmental changes can modify germline sRNAs, potentially influencing offspring phenotypes for evolutionary bet-hedging or adaptive responses.
• The precise role of sRNA inheritance in adaptive evolution and the mechanisms of selection on sRNAs are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and outline potential adaptive sRNA inheritance strategies.
• To discuss non-adaptive alternatives and their evolutionary implications.
• To highlight the underappreciated role of natural selection in sRNA inheritance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and theoretical framework development.
• Analysis of existing studies on sRNA inheritance and environmental adaptation.
• Conceptual modeling of adaptive and non-adaptive sRNA inheritance strategies.

Main Results:

• Two adaptive sRNA inheritance strategies, 'specialist' and 'generalist,' are proposed.
• Non-adaptive alternatives and their evolutionary consequences are discussed.
• Evidence suggests natural selection's role in sRNA inheritance may be significantly overlooked.

Conclusions:

• The evolutionary implications of sRNA inheritance are complex and influenced by natural selection.
• Overlooking selection's role can lead to misinterpretations of sRNA inheritance mechanisms and outcomes.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the interplay between natural selection and sRNA inheritance in driving evolutionary adaptation.