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Role of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance in Evolutionary Biology

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Epigenetics, Development, Ecology and Evolution

Abstract

The mid-twentieth century saw the incorporation of Mendelian genetics into Darwinian theories of evolution. This foundation, termed the modern evolutionary synthesis, has developed into the primary current paradigm of evolutionary biology. However, the current modern synthesis does not include a role for epigenetics in developmental modifications or any mechanisms of non-genetic inheritance. With the recent expansion of epigenetic research into non-genetic mechanisms of adaptation and inheritance, there is a need to expand the modern synthesis into a new extended evolutionary theory. The current chapter presents the role of environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance in evolutionary biology.

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Correspondence to Michael K. Skinner .

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Thorson, J.L.M., Skinner, M.K. (2022). Role of Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance in Evolutionary Biology. In: Vaschetto, L.M. (eds) Epigenetics, Development, Ecology and Evolution. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13771-6_4

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