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Maternal Epigenetic Inheritance

Meaning

Maternal Epigenetic Inheritance is the non-Mendelian transmission of acquired phenotypic traits from the mother to the offspring via epigenetic marks, rather than through the primary DNA sequence. This mechanism involves the transfer of regulatory information, such as small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) or specific methylation patterns, through the oocyte or the maternal environment. It suggests that a mother’s lifetime exposures and physiological adaptations can directly program the biology of subsequent generations.