title: Epigenetic memory and parliamentary privilege combine to evoke discussions on inheritance.
abstract: Understanding the basis of epigenetic memory is a fast-moving challenge in modern biology. At a recent Company of Biologists Workshop held at Steyning's historic Wiston House, thirty researchers led by John Gurdon interrogated three central questions: how are cell type-specific programs generated, what mechanisms duplicate this programmatic information as cells divide, and how does epigenetics contribute to trans-generational inheritance? We report some of the emerging themes arising from this debate.
authors.affiliation: Lymphocyte Development Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK. amanda.fisher@csc.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brockdorff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D040941:Heredity / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin