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Gametes can transmit not only genetic but also epigenetic information to the next generation. Such epigenetic inheritance can occur via several mechanisms, including DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and the transfer of small RNAs. These epigenetic traits, whether spontaneous or environmentally induced, result in the transmission of gene expression patterns from parent to offspring. This transmission may last for only one or two generations (intergenerational epigenetic inheritance) or may persist for many generations (transgenerational epigenetic inheritance). Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance has been most convincingly demonstrated in plants, nematodes, and fruit flies. While there is also support for stable epigenetic transmission in mammals, separating this phenomenon from parental and shared environmental effects has proved challenging.
This Collection will feature articles on the molecular underpinnings of all types of epigenetic inheritance, their phenotypic effects, and their evolutionary implications.