title: The persistence of a silent memory.
abstract: One of the most striking properties of RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans is its persistence in offspring after the triggering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has disappeared. A new study reveals that a heterochromatic silencing mark is deposited around the targets of RNAi and is transmitted through generations. These results show that RNAi can induce stable and heritable chromatin modifications in animals.
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaratiegui
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martienssen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D006657:Histones; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D008239:Lysine