The case for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans
The case for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in humans
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DOI：
10.1007/s00335-008-9124-y
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发表时间：
2008-06-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Whitelaw, Emma
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Morgan, Daniel K.;Whitelaw, Emma
在实验室小鼠中的工作已经确定了一组基因，称为亚稳态表观等位基因，它们告诉我们胚胎中建立表观遗传状态的机制。在这些等位基因中，转录活性取决于表观遗传状态，在同一组织类型中，这可能会因细胞而异。活动或不活动的决定是概率的，对环境影响很敏感。此外，在某些情况下，这些等位基因的表观遗传状态可以代代相传，称为跨代表观遗传。总而言之，这些发现引发了拉马克主义的幽灵，表观遗传学现在被吹捧为人类群体中一些代际影响的解释。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论到目前为止的证据。
Work in the laboratory mouse has identified a group of genes, called metastable epialleles, that are informing us about the mechanisms by which the epigenetic state is established in the embryo. At these alleles, transcriptional activity is dependent on the epigenetic state and this can vary from cell to cell in the one tissue type. The decision to be active or inactive is probabilistic and sensitive to environmental influences. Moreover, in some cases the epigenetic state at these alleles can survive across generations, termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. 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.