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Journal article
Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance and the Weismann Barrier: The Dawn of Neo-Lamarckian Theory
Journal of developmental biology, Vol.8(4), pp.1-11
12/04/2020
PMCID: PMC7768451
PMID: 33291540
Abstract
For the past 120 years, the Weismann barrier and associated germ plasm theory of heredity have been a doctrine that has impacted evolutionary biology and our concepts of inheritance through the germline. Although August Weismann in his 1872 book was correct that the sperm and egg were the only cells to transmit molecular information to the subsequent generation, the concept that somatic cells do not impact the germline (i.e., the Weismann barrier) is incorrect. However, the doctrine or dogma of the Weismann barrier still influences many scientific fields and topics. The discovery of epigenetics, and more recently environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic variation and pathology, have had significant impacts on evolution theory and medicine today. Environmental epigenetics and the concept of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance refute aspects of the Weismann barrier and require a re-evaluation of both inheritance theory and evolution theory.
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Details
- Title
- Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance and the Weismann Barrier: The Dawn of Neo-Lamarckian Theory
- Creators
- Eric E. Nilsson - Washington State UniversityMillissia Ben Maamar - Washington State Univ, Sch Biol Sci, Ctr Reprod Biol, Pullman, WA 99164 USAMichael K. Skinner - Washington State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of developmental biology, Vol.8(4), pp.1-11
- Academic Unit
- Biological Sciences, School of
- Publisher
- Mdpi
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- 50183; 61174 / John Templeton Foundation
- Identifiers
- 99901080820801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article