A position effect on the heritability of epigenetic silencing
2008
Position Effect on the Heritability of Epigenetic Silencing
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Finnegan E. Jean, Whitelaw Emma
Primary Institution: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Hypothesis
Can the integration site of a transposon affect the heritability of epigenetic silencing in plants?
Conclusion
The study found that a specific integration site in maize can lead to the reactivation of a previously silenced transposon across generations.
Supporting Evidence
- The study identified a locus in maize where a transposon can reactivate after being silenced.
- The reactivation of the MuDR element was linked to the loss of DNA methylation.
- This finding suggests that epigenetic states can be inherited and modified across generations.
Takeaway
This study shows that some genes in plants can turn back on after being turned off for a while, depending on where they are in the DNA.
Methodology
The authors used a system involving the MuDR transposon and its variant Mu killer to study epigenetic silencing and reactivation.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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