Heritable Stochastic Switching in Yeast Cells
Author Information
Author(s): Kaufmann Benjamin B, Yang Qiong, Mettetal Jerome T, van Oudenaarden Alexander
Primary Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hypothesis
How does nongenetic inheritance affect changes in gene expression in yeast cells?
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that the switching behavior of yeast cells between two epigenetic states is heritable and influenced by their genealogical history.
Supporting Evidence
- Cells that are closely related tend to switch states in synchrony after division.
- The switching behavior of daughter cells is influenced by their mother's previous state.
- Stochastic processes in gene expression can lead to heritable traits in yeast.
- Experimental data showed a strong correlation in switching times between mother and daughter cells.
Takeaway
When yeast cells divide, they not only pass on their DNA but also a pattern of gene expression that can change randomly over time, and closely related cells tend to switch states together.
Methodology
The researchers tracked families of yeast cells as they switched between two semi-stable epigenetic states using fluorescence microscopy.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the experimental setup and the specific genetic modifications made to the yeast.
Limitations
The study's observations are limited to the specific conditions of the engineered yeast model and may not generalize to other systems.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on the yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<10−45
Statistical Significance
p<10−45
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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