There have been several threads on this forum where epigenetic inheritance was briefly mentioned as part of a different topic. However, I think epigenetic inheritance is important enough to be discussed on its own. Therefore, I have some question for the forum members.
1) Does anyone think that transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI) is a significant phenomenon?
2) Is the experimental research done so far invalid or highly questionable?
3) To what degree do you think the theories on ‘transgenerational epigenetic inheritance’ (TEI) validate or resemble the theories on ‘acquired characteristics’ and ‘Lamarkian inheritance’ proposed in pre-DNA biology?
4) To what extent would the validity of TEI invalidate common hypothesis in ‘mainstream biology’ ?
Here are some links with relevant quotes on research regarding ‘transgenerational epigenetic inheritance’ (TEI) as starters.
Free links
https://chd.ucsd.edu/_files/winter2009/Morgan.08.pdf
‘The case for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans
by Morgan and Whitelaw (2008)
Abstract
….
Moreover, in some cases the epigenetic state at these alleles can survive across generations, termed transgenerational epigenetic inheri- tance. Together these findings raise the spectre of Lamarckism and epigenetics is now being touted as an explanation for some intergenerational effects in human populations. In this review we will discuss the evidence so far…’
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4161/epi.1.2.2762
‘Epigenetics: A Historical Overview
by Holliday (2015)
Abstract
…
There are now also many examples of epigenetic inheritance through the germ line There are several other important epigenetic mechanisms involving chromatin and histone modifications, and also the expanding field of regulatory RNAs. The human epigenome project will unravel the pattern of DNA methylation in different tissues, and will this determine whether the regulation of gene expression is at the level of DNA or chromatin, or both…’
http://publiclines.versailles.inra.f...hannes2009.pdf
‘Assessing the Impact of Transgenerational EpigeneticVariation on Complex Traits
Johnas et al. (2009)’
http://www.nature.com/news/fearful-m...ndants-1.14272
‘Fearful memories haunt mouse descendants
by Calloway (2013)
Certain fears can be inherited through the generations, a provocative study of mice reports1. The authors suggest that a similar phenomenon could influence anxiety and addiction in humans. But some researchers are sceptical of the findings because a biological mechanism that explains the phenomenon has not been identified.’
http://www.genetics.org/content/182/3/845.abstract
‘Epigenetic Inheritance and the Missing Heritability Problem
by Slatkin (2015)
Abstract
…
Epigenetic phenomena, and in particular heritable epigenetic changes, or transgenerational effects, are the subject of much discussion in the current literature. This article presents a model of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and explores the effect of epigenetic inheritance on the risk and recurrence risk of a complex disease….’
http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(14)00286-4
‘Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: Myths and Mechanisms
by Heard et al. (2014)
Abstract
…
Although the inheritance of epigenetic characters can certainly occur—particularly in plants—how much is due to the environment and the extent to which it happens in humans remain unclear.’
http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v.../5200901a.html
‘Time to take epigenetic inheritance seriously
by Pembrey (2002)
…
n this case the transgenerational response to swings in nutrition could have evolved primarily in relation to the regulation of reproduction, with the diabetic risk being a secondary consequence.’
Paywalled link
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/34...9.figures-only
‘Epigenetic inheritance uncoupled from sequence-specific recruitment
by Regunathan, Jih and Moazed’