Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics [Animation]

See how a rat’s mothering style can be passed down to her pups—and to their pups and so on--by altering the mix of chemical groups, or epigenetic marks, on genes in the brain. This animation is based on research led by Michael Meaney of McGill University.

For more on Epigenetics, check out Epigenetics Offers New Clues to Mental Illness in the December 2011 issue of Scientific American, an online-only animation Epigenetics Explained and an installment of our ScieneTalk Podcast The Mind's Hidden Switches..

Illustrations by AXS Biomedical Animation Studio