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Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: how important is it?

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 14, pages 228–235 (2013)Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 September 2013

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Abstract

Much attention has been given to the idea of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, but fundamental questions remain regarding how much takes place and the impact that this might have on organisms. We asked five leading researchers in this area — working on a range of model organisms and in human disease — for their views on these topics. Their responses highlight the mixture of excitement and caution that surrounds transgenerational epigenetic inheritance and the wide gulf between species in terms of our knowledge of the mechanisms that may be involved.

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  • 17 September 2013

    In the author list and throughout the article, the name of the author 'Bill Kelly' has been changed to 'William G. Kelly'. The article has been corrected online.

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Acknowledgements

U.G. is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Research Council. W.G.K. acknowledges J. Lucchesi and S. Battacharyya for helpful discussions and comments. A.C.F.-S. is currently funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), the Wellcome Trust and the EUFP7 programmes EpigeneSys, BLUEPRINT, EpiHealth and INGENIUM. S.L. thanks G. Newby for helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ueli Grossniklaus is at the Institute of Plant Biology and Zürich–Basel Plant Science Center, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zürich, Switzerland.,

    Ueli Grossniklaus

  2. William G. Kelly is at the Biology Department, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.,

    William G. Kelly

  3. Anne C. Ferguson-Smith is at the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and the Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.,

    Anne C. Ferguson-Smith

  4. Marcus Pembrey is at the Clinical and Molecular Genetics Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK,

    Marcus Pembrey

  5. and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, School of Social and Community Medicine, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.,

    Marcus Pembrey

  6. Susan Lindquist is at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,

    Susan Lindquist

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  1. Ueli Grossniklaus
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  2. William G. Kelly
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  3. Anne C. Ferguson-Smith
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  4. Marcus Pembrey
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  5. Susan Lindquist
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Correspondence to Ueli Grossniklaus, William G. Kelly, Anne C. Ferguson-Smith, Marcus Pembrey or Susan Lindquist.

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Grossniklaus, U., Kelly, W., Ferguson-Smith, A. et al. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: how important is it?. Nat Rev Genet 14, 228–235 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3435

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