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Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

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...

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Preconception Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Impacts Offspring Transcriptomes with Sex and Tissue Specific

Rachel C Rice, Richa R Rathod, Daniela V Gil

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|July 10, 2026

Summary

Preconception alcohol exposure in mice, via fathers, mothers, or both, alters offspring gene expression. These epigenetic changes suggest potential metabolic and immune system disruptions in offspring.

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Area of Science:

Epigenetics and Genomics
Neuroscience
Toxicology

Background:

Alcohol use disorder has a significant heritability, with genetic factors alone not fully explaining it.
Epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in how parental alcohol exposure affects offspring, but maternal and biparental effects are understudied.
Existing research primarily focuses on paternal preconception ethanol exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the transcriptomic consequences of paternal, maternal, and biparental preconception ethanol exposure in mice.
To explore how these epigenetic effects vary based on the exposed parent, offspring sex, and tissue type.
To identify potential metabolic and immune dysfunctions in offspring resulting from parental alcohol exposure.

Main Methods:

Adult male and female mice were subjected to chronic intermittent ethanol exposure and mating.
Offspring (F1 generation) were generated with paternal, maternal, or biparental preconception ethanol exposure, alongside controls.
RNA-sequencing was performed on whole blood and medial prefrontal cortex of ethanol-naïve adult offspring, and on preimplantation embryos from exposed sires.

Main Results:

Transcriptomic patterns in offspring were significantly influenced by which parent was exposed to ethanol.
Gene expression differences were observed based on the offspring's sex and the specific tissue analyzed (blood vs. brain).
Analysis revealed distinct transcriptomic signatures associated with paternal, maternal, and biparental exposure routes.

Conclusions:

Preconception ethanol exposure induces lasting epigenetic modifications in offspring, with effects dependent on parental exposure and offspring characteristics.
The findings suggest that parental alcohol exposure can lead to metabolic and immune system dysregulation in offspring.
This study highlights the critical need to consider maternal and biparental contributions to the intergenerational effects of alcohol.