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Research Highlights

Nature Reviews Genetics 10, 6 (1 January 2009) | doi:10.1038/nrg2518

In Brief

Small RNAS An epigenetic role for maternally inherited piRNAs in transposon silencing Brennecke, J. et al. Science 322, 1387–1392 (2008) In Drosophila melanogaster the offspring of wild-caught males and laboratory-strain females are sterile, but genetically identical offspring from the reciprocal cross are fertile. This phenomenon, called hybrid dysgenesis, is thought to be due to the mobilization of transposable elements in the progeny.