Generational and sex-specific effects of paternal environmental exposures on offspring development health

How memory of environmental exposures is transmitted from parents to children and even to great grandchildren to alter disease susceptibility is largely unknown. This pheneomena, known as epigenetic inheritance has been associated to biochemical modifications to the heritable information coded in the germline (sperm and egg). Determining exactly how epigenetic information can be altered by the environment (diet and toxicants), and is passed from fathers to children is the focus of this research program. In the long-term the objectives are to develop preconception advice for men that will lead to healthier children.