Encyclopedia entry
Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance Across Species
Encyclopedia of Reproduction, pp.442-445
Elsevier Inc, Second Edition
2018
Abstract
Epigenetic activity is a normal mechanism by which organisms respond to alterations in the environment by changing gene expression. It is possible for epigenetic changes and epigenetic responses to environmental factors to be inherited to generations that were themselves never exposed to an inducing factor; a process called epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance has been demonstrated to occur across a wide variety of eukaryotic phyla and species. Examples are given including plants, nematode worms, insects, crustaceans, quail, ducks, rats, mice, Guinea pigs, domestic pigs, and humans. This suggests that epigenetic transgenerational inheritance is a broadly conserved phenomenon, and likely has adaptive value for each species.
Metrics
8 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance Across Species
- Creators
- Michael K. Skinner - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School ofEric E. Nilsson - Washington State University, Biological Sciences, School of
- Publication Details
- Encyclopedia of Reproduction, pp.442-445
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Edition
- Second Edition
- Identifiers
- 99901083539801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Encyclopedia entry