Scientists uncover mechanism by which plants inherit epigenetic modifications
Thursday, September 20, 2012 - 15:00
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have discovered that epigenetic modifications can be inherited in pollen and that this process is guided by small RNA. By this mechanism, acquired traits can be inherited over many hundreds of generations. This discovery will influence the ways people think about cross-breeding to select for desirable traits in crops such as those that have important agricultural and economic implications.