The return of Lamarck?

Abstract

In the last decade researchers have produced immense amounts of genetic data resulting in many sequenced genomes. Although we may now know the DNA sequence in a genome, just as seeing all the letters of a book, deciphering which sequences encode genes, let alone understanding which combination of genes are required to organize life, is like decoding the meaning of a book written in a language never before seen. Moreover, how does a cell know which genes to turn on and which to turn off? How does a cell control differentiation into various tissues? For this a cell has to know where it comes from (memory) and what to do (encoded by the DNA). So, how does cellular memory exist and how is it transmitted to the next cell after each cell division? What happens if there is a failure in the transmission of that memory? Can such a memory even be transmitted to the next generation of an organism? This last question is very important since it raises the question as to whether our lifestyle affects our children and grand-children. All these questions are currently being addressed in the research field called “epigenetics”. In recent years epigenetics has rapidly expanded into all biological disciplines but with numerous, different definitions of what epigenetics is. Therefore, it is not easy for students and advanced researchers to find a good entry point in this complex, albeit fascinating subject. This is where the book by Olga and Igor Kovalchuk comes into play. It is one of the fi...