The nature of human transgenerational responses

摘要: We review in this chapter what is known about transgenerational responses (TGRs) humans, that is, a defined exposure one generation producing measurable outcome the next, unexposed generation(s). The nature of signalling humans unknown, but epigenetic inheritance candidate. Human studies have focused on transmission down male line because Russian doll female introduces many confounding influences are difficult to take into account statistically. summarise key findings from TGR three populations: ancestral food supply grandchild’s mortality rate Overkalix Northern Sweden, early paternal smoking offspring body mass index Avon Longitudinal Study Parents and Children (ALSPAC) UK, betel quid chewing metabolic syndrome risk Taiwan. Exposure-sensitive periods childhood sex-specific transmissions features support biological rather than cultural transmission. Drawing results animal experiments, we consider some possible mechanisms, including ‘Y dipstick’ hypothesis, by which experience might impact health future generations, how these ideas can inform design humans.