scholarly journals Role of epigenetics in developmental biology and transgenerational inheritance

2011 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance

scholarly journals Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance, Gametogenesis and Germline Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Millissia Ben Maamar ◽  
Eric E Nilsson ◽  
Michael K Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Primordial Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance ◽  
Germline Development ◽  
Current Review

Abstract One of the most important developing cell types in any biological system is the gamete (sperm and egg). The transmission of phenotypes and optimally adapted physiology to subsequent generations is in large part controlled by gametogenesis. In contrast to genetics, the environment actively regulates epigenetics to impact the physiology and phenotype of cellular and biological systems. The integration of epigenetics and genetics is critical for all developmental biology systems at the cellular and organism level. The current review is focused on the role of epigenetics during gametogenesis for both the spermatogenesis system in the male and oogenesis system in the female. The developmental stages from the initial primordial germ cell through gametogenesis to the mature sperm and egg are presented. How environmental factors can influence the epigenetics of gametogenesis to impact the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic and physiological change in subsequent generations is reviewed.

scholarly journals Intergenerational epigenetic inheritance in reef-building corals

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin Liew ◽  
Emily J. Howells ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Craig T. Michell ◽  
John A. Burt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Intergenerational Transmission ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Cpg Methylation ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Transgenerational Inheritance ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Methylation Patterns ◽  
Hypermethylated Genes

MainThe notion that intergenerational or transgenerational inheritance operates solely through genetic means is slowly being eroded: epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to induce heritable changes in gene activity in plants1,2and metazoans1,3. Inheritance of DNA methylation provides a potential pathway for environmentally induced phenotypes to contribute to evolution of species and populations1–4. However, in basal metazoans, it is unknown whether inheritance of CpG methylation patterns occurs across the genome (as in plants) or as rare exceptions (as in mammals)4. Here, we demonstrate genome-wide intergenerational transmission of CpG methylation patterns from parents to sperm and larvae in a reef-building coral. We also show variation in hypermethylated genes in corals from distinct environments, indicative of responses to variations in temperature and salinity. These findings support a role of DNA methylation in the transgenerational inheritance of traits in corals, which may extend to enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change.

The developmental biology of lymphoid tissue in the rabbit. Consideration of the role of the thymus and appendix

1964 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 680
Author(s):  
O. K. Archer ◽  
D. E. R. Sutherland ◽  
R. A. Good
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Lymphoid Tissue

Glial differentiation and the Gcm pathway

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Soustelle ◽  
Angela Giangrande
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Neural Development ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Molecular Pathways ◽  
Glial Differentiation ◽  
Cell Diversity ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

AbstractOne of the most challenging issues in developmental biology is to understand how cell diversity is generated. The Drosophila nervous system provides a model of choice for unraveling this process. First, many neural stem cells and lineages have been identified. Second, major molecular pathways involved in neural development and associated mutations have been characterized extensively in recent years. In this review, we focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the generation of glia. This cell population relies on the expression of gcm fate determinant, which is necessary and sufficient to induce glial differentiation. We also discuss the recently identified role of gcm genes in Drosophila melanogaster and vertebrate neurogenesis. Finally, we will consider the Gcm pathway in the context of neural stem cell differentiation.

The role of diffusible molecules in regulating the cellular differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum

Development ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.G. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Dictyostelium Discoideum ◽  
Cellular Differentiation ◽  
Prespore Cell ◽  
Additional Role ◽  
Acting In Concert ◽  
Morphogenetic Fields

A central problem in developmental biology is to understand how morphogenetic fields are created and how they act to direct regionalized cellular differentiation. This goal is being pursued in organisms as diverse as moulds, worms, flies, frogs and mice. Each organism has evolved its own solution to the challenge of multicellularity but there appear to be common underlying principles and, once pattern formation is fully understood in any system, some general truths seem certain to be revealed. As a non-obligate metazoan, Dictyostelium discoideum has proven a particularly tractable system in which to identify and characterize cellular morphogens. Cyclic AMP and ammonia stimulate prespore cell differentiation and ammonia plays an additional role in repressing terminal cellular differentiation. Differentiation Inducing Factor (DIF) acts to direct prestalk cell differentiation and adenosine may play a synergistic role in repressing prespore cell differentiation. This review summarizes the evidence for these interactions and describes a number of models which show how this small repertoire of diffusible molecules, acting in concert, may direct the formation of a differentiated structure.

scholarly journals Nodal signalling and asymmetry of the nervous system

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1710) ◽  
pp. 20150401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iskra A. Signore ◽  
Karina Palma ◽  
Miguel L. Concha
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Context Dependency ◽  
Directional Asymmetry ◽  
Visceral Organ ◽  
Left Right Asymmetry ◽  
The Brain

The role of Nodal signalling in nervous system asymmetry is still poorly understood. Here, we review and discuss how asymmetric Nodal signalling controls the ontogeny of nervous system asymmetry using a comparative developmental perspective. A detailed analysis of asymmetry in ascidians and fishes reveals a critical context-dependency of Nodal function and emphasizes that bilaterally paired and midline-unpaired structures/organs behave as different entities. We propose a conceptual framework to dissect the developmental function of Nodal as asymmetry inducer and laterality modulator in the nervous system, which can be used to study other types of body and visceral organ asymmetries. Using insights from developmental biology, we also present novel evolutionary hypotheses on how Nodal led the evolution of directional asymmetry in the brain, with a particular focus on the epithalamus. We intend this paper to provide a synthesis on how Nodal signalling controls left–right asymmetry of the nervous system. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Provocative questions in left–right asymmetry’.

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