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DNA's cousin, RNA, may also pass information down the generations.
In a discovery that rips up the rulebook of genetics, researchers in France have shown that RNA, rather than its more famous cousin DNA, might be able to ferry information from one generation of mice to the next.
Read the story here.
Posted by Nicola Jones on May 24, 2006 05:00 PM | Permalink
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Intresting article, but my question is:
If there is an effect from the RNA in inheritance, could we use this RNA to help cope with genetic mutations that are not advantagous? I'm guessing we'd have to first see if this phenomenon occurs in humans. If there is indeed a posibility of it occuring, then can we alter the RNA to mask the DNA's instructions for protien production?
Posted by: Elliot Aquila | May 25, 2006 04:52 PM
This discovery goes along with intelligent design. The misinterpretation of this controversial theory has lead a lot of profanes associating it with creationism. However intelligent design is not creationism. RNA is the link between DNA and proteins. A gene that is more transcripted than another will produce more corresponding RNA. If RNA can be transmit to the next generation it means that a more usefull gene used during one individual life will probably be passed with more strength to the next generation. It does not discredit Darwin theory but add a route to natural selection for the passing of information to the next generation. This route could improve the speed and coherence (intelligence) of species evolution.
Posted by: L.Gagné | May 25, 2006 05:48 PM
Ostermeier et al proved the principle for the delivery of endogenous sperm RNA, albeit in a model hybrid system, published in Nature two years ago. ("Reproductive biology - Delivering spermatozoan RNA to the oocyte" Nature 429: 154.) Those of us interested in the field are a bit surprised Nature didn't pick this up as a cross-reference. There's a special symposium of the British Andrology Society with an advanced workshop on the testis as a conduit for genomic plasticity this year and this will cover this fascinating topic. See http:/www.britishandrology.org.uk/BAS/Meeting.htm
Posted by: Jim Cummins | May 26, 2006 01:14 AM
As L. Gagne pointed out this does not discredit Darwins evolution. The new findings could also be in line with the old alternative evolution theory proposed by Lamarck (1744 - 1829). Maybe both Lamarck and Darwin were right!
Posted by: S.Ott | May 28, 2006 03:14 PM
There's nothing in this that suggests intelligent design. But it does seem to be something Jean Baptiste Lamarck would have gone to town on.
Posted by: John Clements | May 28, 2006 05:29 PM
This is really big news. There has been talk that RNAs might have been the primary hereditary material in the primordial soup. So perhaps this is an archaic manner of regulation of gene expression never before documented. The instability of the RNA molecule might have pushed for DNA as the hereditary molecule as living organisms evolved.. so instead of being a higher level of control of genes, this might be an intermediate step in the change to DNA as the hereditary molecule..
Posted by: Kevin Lam | July 4, 2006 07:02 AM