Question: How does epigenetic memory persist across multiple generations?

Michael Kimwele answered on 17 Jul 2025:

Epigenetic memory can persist across multiple generations through stable chemical modifications to DNA and histone proteins—such as DNA methylation and histone modifications—that are not erased during gamete formation or early embryonic development. While most epigenetic marks are reset during these stages, a subset can escape this reprogramming and be transmitted to offspring, thereby influencing gene expression patterns in descendants. This transgenerational inheritance often involves mechanisms like small non-coding RNAs and chromatin structure maintenance, which help preserve the epigenetic state, allowing environmental influences or ancestral experiences to affect phenotypes in subsequent generations.