Sperm RNA code: bridging environmental signals and epigenetic memory
Junchao Shi
The discovery of RNA in sperm indicates that spermatozoa convey paternal information beyond genomic DNA. Using novel tools, we demonstrate that sperm-borne RNAs—particularly noncanonical small noncoding RNAs and their associated modifications—mediate the inheritance of environmentally induced paternal phenotypes, such as metabolic disorders and toxicant responses, by shaping early embryonic development.
