Abstract
Dias and Ressler show parental fear conditioning to an odour left behavioural and neural sensitivity in F1 and F2 offspring — with epigenetic marks at the olfactory receptor gene.
Dias, B. G., & Ressler, K. J. (2013). Nature Neuroscience, 17(1), 89–96. DOI
Key findings
- Parent fear passed — Offspring showed enhanced fear to the conditioned odour without direct training.
- Second generation — Effects appeared in F2 — not only direct offspring.
- Neural structure — Neural circuitry differed in offspring — not only behaviour on test day.
- Epigenetic hint — DNA methylation changes at the receptor locus linked to transmission in this model.
Limits
Mouse olfactory paradigm — provocative; human transgenerational claims need caution.