2024/08/21 by D Patrick Gainey, Andrey V. Shubin, Craig P. Hunter · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
paper · doi:10.7554/elife.100254.1
openalex publication_date 2024/08/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Abstract Here we report our attempt to replicate reports of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Published results from multiple laboratories show that C. elegans adults and their F1 embryos exposed to the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa show pathogen aversion behavior and a pathogen exposure-dependent increase in daf-7/TGFβ reporter gene expression. However, results from one group show persistence of the aversion behavior and elevated daf-7 expression in the F2, F3, and F4 generations. In contrast, we failed to consistently detect either the pathogen avoidance response or elevated daf-7 expression beyond the F1 generation. The experimental methods are well-described, the source materials are readily available, including samples from the reporting laboratory, and we explored a variety of environmental conditions likely to account for lab-to-lab variability. None of these adjustments altered our results. Thus, we conclude that this example of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance lacks the robustness required for reliable experimental replication and investigation.