Molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance: Possible evolutionary implications
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Sarkies, Peter
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Recently interest in multi-generational epigenetic phenomena have been fuelled by highly reproducible intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance paradigms in several model organisms. Such paradigms are essential in order to begin to use genetics to unpick the mechanistic bases of how epigenetic information may be transmitted between generations; indeed great strides have been made towards understanding these mechanisms. Far less well understood is the relationship between epigenetic inheritance, ecology and evolution. In this review I focus on potential connections between laboratory studies of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance phenomena and evolutionary processes that occur in natural populations. In the first section, I consider whether transgenerational epigenetic inheritance might provide an advantage to organisms over the short term in adapting to their environment. Second, I consider whether epigenetic changes can contribute to the evolution of species by contributing to stable phenotypic variation within a population. Finally I discuss whether epigenetic changes could influence evolution by either directly or indirectly promoting DNA sequence changes that could impact phenotypic divergence. Additionally, I will discuss how epigenetic changes could influence the evolution of human cancer and thus be directly relevant for the development of this disease.
Date Issued
2020-01
Date Acceptance
2019-06-18
Citation
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 2020, 97, pp.106-115
ISSN
1084-9521
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
106
End Page
115
Journal / Book Title
Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
Volume
97
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/).
Sponsor
Medical Research Council
Grant Number
MC-A652-5PZ80-3203-0000-0000
Subjects
DNA methylation
Epigenetics
Epigenomics
Epimutation
Evolution
Small RNAs
0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
Developmental Biology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-06-21