How epigenetic memory is passed through generations: Sperm and eggs transmit memory of gene repression to embryos
Friday, September 19, 2014 - 01:01
in Biology & Nature
A growing body of evidence suggests that environmental stresses can cause changes in gene expression that are transmitted from parents to their offspring, making 'epigenetics' a hot topic. Epigenetic modifications do not affect the DNA sequence of genes, but change how the DNA is packaged and how genes are expressed. Now, scientists have shown how epigenetic memory can be passed across generations and from cell to cell during development.