A groundbreaking study from the University of Toronto has revealed a third mechanism of inheritance that operates outside of traditional DNA and RNA pathways.

Researchers, studying the hermaphroditic worm Caenorhabditis elegans, found that amyloid-like structures, which are often linked to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, can carry inheritable traits.

Initially focused on cancer signaling pathways, the research team, led by Brent Derry and Matthew Eroglu, observed unexpected changes in the worms over successive generations. They noted a decline in fertility and an increase in feminine characteristics, ultimately leading to complete sterilization.

Intrigued by this epigenetic change an alteration that does not modify the DNA sequence the team continued their investigation and identified the amyloid-like structures as the source of these traits.

Their findings were published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

Eroglu explained that while many traits and disorders are known to be passed down through family lineages, genome-wide studies often fail to explain all observed heritability. He suggested that epigenetic factors, such as these amyloids, might play a crucial role.

Amyloids, which can accumulate in the body and lead to neurological diseases, were found within cellular structures called “herasomes,” exhibiting a capability similar to DNA in terms of replication.

The research team conducted tests to verify their hypotheses, discovering that stress on the worms solidified the connection between the amyloid structures and the observed feminization and sterilization effects.

This discovery opens new avenues for research into potential inheritance mechanisms in humans, despite the differences between worms and human traits.

Eroglu speculated on the possibility of identifying alternative mechanisms of inheritance that might influence various traits or predict diseases beyond what DNA analysis alone can offer.