Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance in Mimulus guttatus

Nature vs. Nurture: How Parental Experiences Shape Their Offspring's Genes

Kai Mendoza in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlocking the Secrets of Transgenerational Plasticity: New research reveals how a parent's environment can alter their offspring's genetic makeup, offering new insights into adaptation and resilience."

In the age-old debate of nature versus nurture, a compelling layer of complexity has emerged: transgenerational plasticity. This phenomenon occurs when an organism's experiences directly influence the growth, development, and even the genetic makeup of its offspring. Recent research, inspired by observations in plants, is beginning to unravel the mechanisms behind this fascinating form of inheritance, suggesting that what our parents endure can leave a lasting mark on our own biological destinies.

Phenotypic plasticity, the ability to adapt development in response to environmental cues, plays a vital role in a constantly changing world. This understanding has sparked inquiry into how molecular mechanisms, evolutionary implications and plastic phenotypic responses are passed down through generations. Parents ability to transmit signals that evoke plastic responses to the next generation remains poorly understood. The lingering skepticism stems from historical ties to outdated theories, yet is progressively being accepted through scientific understanding of epigenetic inheritance.

A study of leaf damage in Mimulus guttatus has showcased transgenerational plasticity mediated through differential expression of hundreds of genes. This study tests how parental damage in the flowering plant, Mimulus guttatus, effects the epigenetic profile of the following generation. By utilizing the same M. guttatus recombinant inbred line (RIL) allows us to identify differentially methylated regions and consider their potential regulation of transposable element (TE) and gene expression.

Decoding the Methylome: A New Frontier in Heredity

Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance in Mimulus guttatus

The research team employed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to analyze the progeny of Mimulus guttatus plants, comparing those from damaged and control groups. This sophisticated technique allowed them to map the methylome—the complete set of methylation modifications in an organism's DNA—and identify differences in both the mean and variance of methylation between the two groups. The study revealed that parental damage led to an increased variability of CG and CHG methylation among progeny, without altering the overall mean methylation. Instead, the damage had positive effects in some regions and negative effects in others.

The study pinpointed 3,396 CHH, 203 CG, and 54 CHG Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs), ranging from tens to thousands of base pairs scattered across the genome. CHG and CHH DMRs tended to overlap with transposable elements, while CG DMRs were more likely to be found in gene-coding regions, many of which had been previously identified as differentially expressed. This suggests a potential association between CG DMRs and differentially expressed genes.

Methylome Variation: Parental conditions increase epigenetic diversity in response to stress.
DMR Associations: Potential link between CG DMRs and differentially expressed genes.
TE Overlap: CHG and CHH DMRs often overlap with transposable elements.
CG DMR Function: CG DMRs are associated with gene coding regions.

Conditions experienced by parents can alter fitness, phenotype, gene expression, and DNA methylation of progeny for biotic and abiotic interactions. In M. guttatus, progeny plants increase trichome production and differentially express nearly 1000 genes in response to parental damage. Similar behavior is shown in drought stressed Polygonum persicaria alter seedling growth, resulting in increased fitness in dry conditions.

Implications and Future Directions

Genome-wide increases in methylome variation suggest that parental conditions can increase epigenetic diversity in response to stress. These findings support the hypothesis that differential methylation is a mechanistic component of transgenerational plasticity in M. guttatus, offering a new perspective on how organisms adapt and evolve in response to environmental challenges. As we continue to unravel the complexities of epigenetic inheritance, we move closer to understanding the intricate interplay between genes and environment, and the remarkable capacity of organisms to transmit experiences across generations.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1186/s12864-018-5087-x, Alternate LINK

Title: Parental Experience Modifies The Mimulus Methylome

Subject: Genetics

Journal: BMC Genomics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Jack M Colicchio, John K Kelly, Lena C Hileman

Published: 2018-10-12

Everything You Need To Know

What is transgenerational plasticity and how does it challenge traditional views of heredity?

Transgenerational plasticity refers to the phenomenon where an organism's experiences directly influence the genetic makeup of its offspring. This process allows parental environmental exposures to leave lasting marks, impacting their offspring's development and genetic structure. It contrasts with the traditional view of heredity and highlights the influence of nurture on nature.

How did the research team map DNA methylation patterns in Mimulus guttatus, and what key findings emerged from comparing progeny of damaged and control groups?

The study used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to analyze the progeny of Mimulus guttatus plants from damaged and control groups. This technique mapped the methylome to identify differences in methylation. The study revealed that parental damage increased the variability of CG and CHG methylation among progeny, without altering the overall mean methylation.

What are Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs), and what significance do they hold in the context of transgenerational plasticity observed in Mimulus guttatus?

Differentially Methylated Regions (DMRs) are regions in the genome where DNA methylation levels differ between groups (e.g., progeny of damaged versus control plants). The study on Mimulus guttatus identified 3,396 CHH, 203 CG, and 54 CHG DMRs. These DMRs are significant because they can affect gene expression and potentially contribute to phenotypic changes observed in subsequent generations.

How might changes in DNA methylation, specifically CG DMRs, influence gene expression in Mimulus guttatus according to the study's findings?

The study suggests that changes in DNA methylation, particularly in CG DMRs, may influence gene expression in Mimulus guttatus. The association between CG DMRs and differentially expressed genes indicates that parental experiences can lead to epigenetic modifications that alter how genes are expressed in offspring. This mechanism is a crucial component of transgenerational plasticity, allowing organisms to adapt and evolve in response to environmental challenges.

What are the broader implications of discovering that parental conditions can increase epigenetic diversity, particularly for understanding adaptation and resilience in changing environments, as exemplified by Mimulus guttatus and Polygonum persicaria?

The discovery that parental conditions can increase epigenetic diversity in response to stress has profound implications for understanding adaptation and resilience in the face of changing environments. Genome-wide increases in methylome variation of Mimulus guttatus and Polygonum persicaria suggests a mechanism by which organisms can rapidly respond to environmental pressures, potentially accelerating evolutionary processes. This is significant for predicting how populations might adapt to future environmental changes and highlights the importance of considering parental experiences in ecological and evolutionary studies.