Genome complexity: epigenetics in plants (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, February 13, 2014, 15:08 (3726 days ago) @ David Turell

Direct epigentic modifications immediately inherited:-"Although the Science paper is based on heritability over just seven generations, other results with the Arabidopsis strains show that epigenetic traits are stably inherited for at least 20 generations. Johannes: 'Such stable traits can be of interest to plant breeders. Apart from variations in the gene sequence, epigenetic variation may contribute to commercially interesting traits.' - 
"The epigenetic markers may also affect evolution, independent of DNA sequence. 'They cause variation on which natural selection can act', Johannes explains. As such, traits caused by epigenetic variation may make an independent contribution to changes in a species. 'Our findings were made using inbred strains, but we also have evidence that we can find some of the same epigenetic QTLs in wild populations of this species as well.' This suggests it is not just a laboratory artefact but something that plays a role in nature."-
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140211094159.htm