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Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance In Plants
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in plants involves mechanisms for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, the passing of epigenetic marks from parent to offspring that differ from those reported in animals. There are several kinds of epigenetic markers, but they all provide a mechanism to facilitate greater phenotypic plasticity by influencing the expression of genes without altering the DNA code. These modifications represent responses to environmental input and are reversible changes to gene expression patterns that can be passed down through generations. In plants, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance could potentially represent an evolutionary adaptation for sessile organisms to quickly adapt to their changing environment. In eukaryotes, negatively-charged DNA is wrapped extremely tightly around positively-charged proteins, called histones, to form chromatin. Since the DNA is wrapped so tightly, it is inaccessible to transcription enzymes that function to copy the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is the proposed transmission of epigenetic markers and modifications from one generation to multiple subsequent generations without altering the primary structure of DNA. Thus, the regulation of genes via epigenetic mechanisms can be heritable; the amount of transcripts and proteins produced can be altered by inherited epigenetic changes. In order for epigenetic marks to be heritable, however, they must occur in the gametes in animals, but since plants lack a definitive germline and can propagate, epigenetic marks in any tissue can be heritable. The inheritance of epigenetic marks in the immediate generation is referred to as intergenerational inheritance. In male mice, the epigenetic signal is maintained through the F1 generation. In female mice, the epigenetic signal is maintained through the F2 generation as a result of the exposure of the germline in the womb. Many epigenetic signals are lost beyond the F2/F3 generation and are no lon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
