Animals transmit not only DNA but also other molecules, such as RNA, proteins and
metabolites, to their progeny via gametes. It is currently unclear to what extent these …

Ageing is affected by both genetic and non-genetic factors. Here, we review the chromatin-
based epigenetic changes that occur during ageing, the role of chromatin modifiers in …

The ability to inherit learned information from parents could be evolutionarily beneficial,
enabling progeny to better survive dangerous conditions. We discovered that, after C …

Argonaute (AGO) proteins associate with small RNAs to direct their effector function on
complementary transcripts. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains an expanded …

Distinguishing self from non-self plays a crucial role in safeguarding the germlines of
metazoa from mobile DNA elements. Since their discovery less than a decade ago, Piwi …

Heritability has traditionally been thought to be a characteristic feature of the genetic
material of an organism—notably, its DNA. However, it is now clear that inheritance not …

Caenorhabditis elegans survives on ephemeral food sources in the wild, and the species
has a variety of adaptive responses to starvation. These features of its life history make the …

Summary piRNAs (Piwi-interacting small RNAs) engage Piwi Argonautes to silence
transposons and promote fertility in animal germlines. Genetic and computational studies …

Examples of transgenerational inheritance of environmental responses are rapidly
accumulating. In Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, such heritable information transmits …

Hormesis is a biological phenomenon, whereby exposure to low levels of toxic agents or
conditions increases organismal viability. It thus represents a beneficial aspect of adaptive …