Epigenetic "Memory" Key to Nature Versus Nurture, John Innes Centre Study

Researchers at the John Innes Centre have made a discovery, reported this evening (24 July) in Nature, that explains how an organism can create a biological memory of some variable condition, such as quality of nutrition or temperature. The discovery explains the mechanism of this memory -- a sort of biological switch -- and how it can also be inherited by offspring. The work was led by Professor Martin Howard and Professor Caroline Dean at the John Innes Centre. Professor Dean said "There are quite a few examples that we now know of where the activity of genes can be affected in the long term by environmental factors.