Another role for RNA: a messenger across generations.
There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the notion that DNA is not the sole determinant of our inherited phenotype. The strongest evidence for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance has come from studies of paramutation in plants. But few examples have been reported in other species, and the molecular basis for the process has been unclear. A recent paper by Rassoulzadegan and colleagues provides clear evidence of paramutation in mice and strong evidence that RNA is involved.
Ashe
Alyson
A
Department of Population Studies and Human Genetics, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia.
Whitelaw
Emma
E
D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D040582:Inheritance Patterns / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D034622:RNA Interference
D012313:RNA