Causes and Consequences of Inclusive Inheritance

Session

Session 3

7 Nov 2019, 11:45

Lecture Hall (MPI for Evolutionary Biology)

14. Keynote: Inheritance beyond DNA sequence: news from worms and fishes

Eric Miska

07/11/2019, 11:45

Since August Weismann (1834-1914) formulated the distinction between innate and acquired characteristics at the end of the 19th century, the debate relating to the inheritance of acquired traits has raised many controversies in the scientific community. Following convincing arguments against (e.g. William Bateson) this debate was then set aside by the majority of the scientific community....

15. Schrödinger´s Inheritance

Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser

07/11/2019, 12:15

Non-genetic inheritance (NGI) deals with inheritance mechanisms apart from DNA. Candidates for germ-cell mediated information transfer between generations are modified histones, DNA methylation, and small RNAs. These mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved. In addition, the heritability of environmental information in plants and animals has been demonstrated. Together, this has inspired a...

16. Potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying insect overwintering

Peter Pruisscher

07/11/2019, 12:30

In insects, increasing evidence shows that epigenetic changes can be passed on to future generations. This is also true for diapause, an environmentally induced state of ‘hibernation’ that is characterised by arrested development and suppressed metabolism. In Lepidoptera there is a strong paternal influence on the diapause decision of the offspring. However, not much is known about the...

17. Epigenetic reprogramming during gametogenesis and embryogenesis of threespine stickleback: Windows for adaptation during climate change?

Alexandre Fellous

07/11/2019, 12:45

Our climate is changing rapidly and organisms must either move, adapt or acclimate in order to persist. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation may be an important mechanism underlying fast, adaptive responses, as they can contribute to heritable changes within populations and drive rapid evolution. Crucial during gametogenesis and development (embryogenesis), epigenetic modifications...