10/19/2011 PERMALINK
Worm offspring inherit longevity even without the modded genes of their parents. Worms given life-span-enhancing mutations produce offspring that lack the responsible genes but live longer anyway. The tiny soil-dwelling worms C. elegans, when given mutations that make them live longer, transmit that trait even when their progeny don't inherit the life-extending mutations. The findings present a modern-day version of Lamarckian inheritance, in which acquired characteristics can be passed to offspring without changes to the genetic code.