title: Darwin's Pangenesis as a molecular theory of inherited diseases.
abstract: Darwin spent much time and effort on the study of inherited diseases and the role of environment in disease development. To explain inherited diseases and a considerable variety of other hereditary phenomena, he formulated a Pangenesis hypothesis, assuming that cells could shed many kinds of molecules capable of diffusion from cell to cell, circulation throughout the body, incorporation into recipient cells, and transmission from parents to offspring. His Pangenesis is now supported by the discovery of circulating DNA, mobile RNAs and prions, and might provide an alternative molecular mechanism underlying the inherited diseases.
authors.affiliation: Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. Electronic address: ysliu63@yahoo.ca.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. Electronic address: xjli@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Xiuju
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics*; D056084:Genetic Fitness / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: Circulating DNA; Darwin' Pangenesis; Inherited diseases; Mobile RNAs; Prions