Study finds epigenetic traits break Mendel's genetic laws

01 giugno 2026

Riportato dall'IA

A federally funded mouse study has revealed that some inherited traits follow non-Mendelian patterns through epigenetic changes. The research identified hundreds of unexpected DNA methylation events across generations. It also documented the first known natural paramutation in a mammal.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Texas A&M University tracked DNA methylation in three generations of mice. They examined 12 known inheritance patterns and found that about 7 percent did not follow classic Mendelian rules. Among these were 54 cases where methylation appeared in offspring without being present in either parent.

EPFL study links mitochondrial “pearling” to the even spacing of mtDNA nucleoids

14 aprile 2026 Riportato dall'IA Immagine generata dall'IA Verificato

Scientists at EPFL report that a transient shape change in mitochondria—known as “pearling,” in which the organelle briefly forms bead-like constrictions—can redistribute clusters of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into more evenly spaced nucleoids. The work, published April 2, 2026 in Science, suggests the process is triggered by calcium influx into mitochondria and may help explain how cells maintain robust mtDNA organization, a feature implicated in a range of mitochondrial-related disorders.

Study shows cloned mice accumulate harmful mutations

A 20-year experiment cloning mice has revealed that clones develop significantly more genetic mutations than naturally reproduced mice, accumulating to fatal levels after multiple generations. Researchers led by Teruhiko Wakayama at Yamanashi University in Japan found over 70 mutations per clone generation on average, three times higher than in controls. The findings, published in Nature Communications, raise concerns for applications in farming, conservation and de-extinction efforts.

Study links birth epigenetic markers and early gut bacteria with autism- and ADHD-related traits by age 3

03 giugno 2026 Riportato dall'IA Verificato

A study involving infants in Hong Kong found that DNA methylation patterns measured at birth were associated with how the gut microbiome developed during the first year of life, and that certain combinations were linked to autism- and ADHD-related behavioral signs at 36 months.

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05 giugno 2026 13:28

Study finds epigenetic traits break Mendel's genetic laws

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