連邦政府の資金提供を受けたマウスの試験から、一部の遺伝形質がエピジェネティックな変化を通じてメンデルの法則に従わないパターンを示すことが判明した。本研究では、世代を超えて数百もの予期せぬDNAメチル化事象が確認されたほか、哺乳類において初めて確認された自然なパラミューテーション（対立遺伝子相互作用）が記録された。
ジョンズ・ホプキンス大学とテキサスA&M大学の研究チームは、3世代にわたるマウスのDNAメチル化を追跡した。既知の12の遺伝パターンを調査したところ、約7％が古典的なメンデルの法則に従っていないことがわかった。その中には、両親のどちらにも見られなかったメチル化が子孫に現れた事例が54件含まれていた。
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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.
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.
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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.
A large-scale genetic analysis has identified a previously overlooked third ancestral group in Japan, challenging the long-held dual origins theory. Researchers linked the new ancestry to the ancient Emishi people of northeastern Japan. The findings also connect archaic DNA from Neanderthals and Denisovans to modern health conditions.