Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found, for the first time, that genes affected by stress during life can be passed to the next generation through eggs and sperm. The finding, from DNA evidence in mice, adds to evidence of epigenetic inheritance of the effects of environmental stressors such as smoking, diet, and adverse childhood events. Results appeared online in Science on January 25, 2013.
Hackett, J., Roopsha, S., et al. Germline DNA Demethylation Dynamics and Imprint Erasure Through 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine. Science, online January 25, 2013
Of further interest:
Stress can affect future generations’ genes (NewScientist)
