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a trio of infant mice, two brown mice on the ends and one white mouse in the middle
Mice Pass Epigenetic Tweaks to Pups
An engineered methylation pattern persisted for four generations of mice, demonstrating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance can occur in mammals.
Mice Pass Epigenetic Tweaks to Pups
Mice Pass Epigenetic Tweaks to Pups

An engineered methylation pattern persisted for four generations of mice, demonstrating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance can occur in mammals.

An engineered methylation pattern persisted for four generations of mice, demonstrating transgenerational epigenetic inheritance can occur in mammals.

epigenetics, evolution

Illustration from the epigenetics and the genome infographic
Infographic: How Epigenetic Marks Can Change the Genome
Katarina Zimmer | Nov 1, 2022 | 2 min read
Although epigenetic changes were long thought to largely act on the genome, rather than as part of it, research is now showing that these patterns can, directly or indirectly, change the genetic code.
Cellular DNA and epigenetics
Do Epigenetic Changes Influence Evolution?
Katarina Zimmer | Nov 1, 2022 | 10+ min read
Evidence is mounting that epigenetic marks on DNA can influence future generations in a variety of ways. But how such phenomena might affect large-scale evolutionary processes is hotly debated.
An illustration showing a scale weighing two double-stranded pieces of DNA that has a big question mark in the center.
Mouse Foraging Behavior Shaped by Opposite-Sex Parent’s Genes
Dan Robitzski | Apr 12, 2022 | 7 min read
A study in mice finds that for certain genes, one parent’s allele can dominate expression and shape behavior—and which parent’s allele does so varies throughout the body.
A bright, illuminated, yellow cluster of spheres, representing a mutated base pair, stands out from a double helix of deep red base pairs joined by blue hydrogen bonds
Study: Sickle Cell Mutation Driven by Pressure, Not Random Chance
Dan Robitzski | Mar 17, 2022 | 6 min read
New research finds that the appearance of the HbS mutation, which protects against malaria but leads to sickle cell disease when present in two copies, was more common in sperm samples from men in Ghana, where malaria risk is high, than Europeans.
A close-up image of pale green seeds inside of a green capsule taken by a scanning electron microscope
Essential Genes Protected from Mutations
Dan Robitzski | Jan 25, 2022 | 6 min read
Epigenetic structures appear to reduce the rate of changes in genes essential for survival and reproduction, a study finds, challenging the notion that mutations are evenly distributed throughout the genome prior to selection.
A semi-translucent hydra, complete with a body column, head, and multiple tentacles, is pictured in front of a gray background.
How Hydras Regenerate Decapitated Heads
Dan Robitzski | Dec 14, 2021 | 5 min read
Hydra vulgaris constantly replenish the cells in their heads and grow new ones to reproduce asexually. But gene expression analyses reveal that regenerating a head after an injury is a very different process.
Ribosomal DNA Can Predict an Animal’s Age
Abby Olena, PhD | Feb 14, 2019 | 3 min read
A clock constructed of rDNA methylation sites can estimate both chronological and biological age across species.
Global Patterns of Human Epigenetic Variation
Ashley Yeager | Aug 28, 2017 | 3 min read
A study of five far-flung human populations gives clues to adaptations to environmental pressures.
All Together Now
Mary Beth Aberlin | Jan 1, 2016 | 3 min read
Understanding the biological roots of cooperation might help resolve some of the biggest scientific challenges we face.
Contributors
Karen Zusi | Jan 1, 2016 | 3 min read
Meet some of the people featured in the January 2016 issue of The Scientist.
Estimating Epigenetic Mutation Rates
Jenny Rood | May 11, 2015 | 2 min read
Generation-spanning maps of Arabidopsis thaliana DNA methylation allow researchers to compute how quickly epigenetic marks appear and disappear in the plant’s genome.
Performance Art
Mary Beth Aberlin | Jan 1, 2015 | 3 min read
Regulation of genome expression orchestrates the behavior of insect castes and the human response to social stress.
Home Cookin’
Hayley Dunning | Oct 1, 2012 | 4 min read
Laboratory-raised populations of dung beetles reveal a mother's extragenetic influence on the physiques of her sons.
Lamarck and the Missing Lnc
Kevin V. Morris | Oct 1, 2012 | 8 min read
Epigenetic changes accrued over an organism’s lifetime may leave a permanent heritable mark on the genome, through the help of long noncoding RNAs.
Cancer’s Escape Routes
Tia Ghose | Nov 29, 2011 | 5 min read
Scientists are beginning to discover myriad strategies tumors use to avoid attacks by anti-cancer drugs.
Evolution, Tout de Suite
Richard P. Grant | Oct 1, 2011 | 4 min read
Epigenetic perturbations could jump-start heritable variation.
Beyond Nature vs. Nurture
Darlene Francis and Daniela Kaufer | Oct 1, 2011 | 3 min read
Researchers studying differences in how individuals respond to stress are finding that genes are malleable and environments can be deterministic.
Epigenetics and Society
Andrew D. Ellington | Mar 1, 2011 | 3 min read
Did Erasmus Darwin foreshadow the tweaking of his grandson’s paradigm?
Epigenetics—A Primer
Stefan Kubicek | Mar 1, 2011 | 1 min read
There are many ways that epigenetic effects regulate the activation or repression of genes. Here are a few molecular tricks cells use to read off the right genetic program.
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