DNA methylation mediates genetic variation for adaptive transgenerational plasticity.

ABSTRACT: Environmental stresses experienced by individual parents can influence offspring phenotypes in ways that enhance survival under similar conditions. Although such adaptive transgenerational plasticity is well documented, its transmission mechanisms are generally unknown. One possible mechanism is environmentally induced DNA methylation changes. We tested this hypothesis in the annual plant Polygonum persicaria, a species known to express adaptive transgenerational plasticity in response to parental drought stress. Replicate plants of 12 genetic lines (sampled from natural populations) were grown in dry versus moist soil. Their offspring were exposed to the demethylating agent zebularine or to control conditions during germination and then grown in dry soil. Under control germination conditi

SUBMITTER: Herman JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5031651 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature