Maternally transmitted RNAs in C. elegans

Inheritance of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the maternal circulation of C. elegans has been shown to depend on the dsRNA channel SID-1 as well as the yolk endocytosis receptor RME-2. This project seeks to identify endogenous transcripts that may also be inherited by this mechanism by sequencing and comparing the maternally deposited RNAs in wild-type and mutant embryos lacking SID-1 and/or RME-2. Transcripts not present in mutant embryos may depend on SID-1 and/or RME-2 for transmission and thus have a non-germline origin, which may represent a direct influence of maternal experience on the development of the progeny.