{"title":"Generational stability of epigenetic transgenerational inheritance facilitates adaptation and evolution.","authors":"Alexandra Korolenko, Michael K Skinner","doi":"10.1080/15592294.2024.2380929","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The epigenome and epigenetic inheritance were not included in the original modern synthesis theory or more recent extended evolutionary synthesis of evolution. In a broad range of species, the environment has been shown to play a significant role in natural selection, which more recently has been shown to occur through epigenetic alterations and epigenetic inheritance. However, even with this evidence, the field of epigenetics and epigenetic inheritance has been left out of modern evolutionary synthesis, as well as other current evolutionary models. Epigenetic mechanisms can direct the regulation of genetic processes (e.g. gene expression) and also can be directly changed by the environment. In contrast, DNA sequence cannot be directly altered by the environment. The goal of this review is to present the evidence of how epigenetics and epigenetic inheritance can alter phenotypic variation in numerous species. This can occur at a significantly higher frequency than genetic change, so correlates with the frequency of evolutionary change. In addition, the concept and importance of generational stability of transgenerational inheritance is incorporated into evolutionary theory. For there to be a better understanding of evolutionary biology, we must incorporate all aspects of molecular (e.g. genetics and epigenetics) and biological sciences (e.g. environment and adaptation).</p>","PeriodicalId":11767,"journal":{"name":"Epigenetics","volume":"19 1","pages":"2380929"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11305060/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Epigenetics","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15592294.2024.2380929","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/8/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The epigenome and epigenetic inheritance were not included in the original modern synthesis theory or more recent extended evolutionary synthesis of evolution. In a broad range of species, the environment has been shown to play a significant role in natural selection, which more recently has been shown to occur through epigenetic alterations and epigenetic inheritance. However, even with this evidence, the field of epigenetics and epigenetic inheritance has been left out of modern evolutionary synthesis, as well as other current evolutionary models. Epigenetic mechanisms can direct the regulation of genetic processes (e.g. gene expression) and also can be directly changed by the environment. In contrast, DNA sequence cannot be directly altered by the environment. The goal of this review is to present the evidence of how epigenetics and epigenetic inheritance can alter phenotypic variation in numerous species. This can occur at a significantly higher frequency than genetic change, so correlates with the frequency of evolutionary change. In addition, the concept and importance of generational stability of transgenerational inheritance is incorporated into evolutionary theory. For there to be a better understanding of evolutionary biology, we must incorporate all aspects of molecular (e.g. genetics and epigenetics) and biological sciences (e.g. environment and adaptation).
期刊介绍:
Epigenetics publishes peer-reviewed original research and review articles that provide an unprecedented forum where epigenetic mechanisms and their role in diverse biological processes can be revealed, shared, and discussed.
Epigenetics research studies heritable changes in gene expression caused by mechanisms others than the modification of the DNA sequence. Epigenetics therefore plays critical roles in a variety of biological systems, diseases, and disciplines. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
DNA methylation
Nucleosome positioning and modification
Gene silencing
Imprinting
Nuclear reprogramming
Chromatin remodeling
Non-coding RNA
Non-histone chromosomal elements
Dosage compensation
Nuclear organization
Epigenetic therapy and diagnostics
Nutrition and environmental epigenetics
Cancer epigenetics
Neuroepigenetics