Sexual reproduction allows organisms to mix up their genes and develop new adaptations to survive a harsh and ever-changing environment. Under nutrient-rich conditions, the worm C. elegans is typically asexual, but after enduring several generations of stress, the worms begin to reproduce sexually and release pheromones to appear more sexually attractive to male worms. In the journal Developmental Cell on February 7th, researchers have determined how sexual attractiveness is passed on, and that it occurs not through modification of the worm’s DNA, but instead through the transfer of small RNAs.
Click here for original story, Stressed out worms use epigenetic inheritance to produce more sexually attractive offspring
Source: Phys.org