Bacteria Can Inherit Non-Genetic Changes, Study Reveals

New research finds that bacterial cells pass down 'memories' of temporary changes through regulatory networks, not DNA.

Bacterial cells can transmit non-genetic changes to their offspring for multiple generations.
These changes are stored in the regulatory network of genes rather than in DNA.
The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about genetic inheritance in bacteria.
Potential medical applications include combating antibiotic resistance by altering bacterial sensitivity.
The findings were derived from studies on Escherichia coli using mathematical models and CRISPR technology.