Darwin's Pangenesis as a molecular theory of inherited diseases

Yongsheng Liu; Xiuju Li

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.051

Darwin's Pangenesis as a molecular theory of inherited diseases

Gene. 2016 May 10;582(1):19-22. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.051. Epub 2016 Feb 1.

Authors

Yongsheng Liu¹, Xiuju Li²

Affiliations

¹ Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. Electronic address: ysliu63@yahoo.ca.
² Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada. Electronic address: xjli@ualberta.ca.

PMID: 26836487
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.051

Abstract

Darwin spent much time and effort on the study of inherited diseases and the role of environment in disease development. To explain inherited diseases and a considerable variety of other hereditary phenomena, he formulated a Pangenesis hypothesis, assuming that cells could shed many kinds of molecules capable of diffusion from cell to cell, circulation throughout the body, incorporation into recipient cells, and transmission from parents to offspring. His Pangenesis is now supported by the discovery of circulating DNA, mobile RNAs and prions, and might provide an alternative molecular mechanism underlying the inherited diseases.

Keywords: Circulating DNA; Darwin' Pangenesis; Inherited diseases; Mobile RNAs; Prions.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

DNA / genetics
Genetic Diseases, Inborn / genetics*
Genetic Fitness / genetics*
Humans
Prions / genetics*
RNA / genetics
Selection, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

Prions
RNA
DNA