Table 1.

Definitions commonly used when describing transfer of information across generations

Epigenetic multigenerational inheritance	transmission of epigenetic information via the germline across generations in the absence of any direct environmental exposure or genetic manipulation
Intergenerational inheritance	maternal exposure (F0) has direct effects on the developing fetus, and potentially on the germ line of the fetus leading to altered phenotype of the child (F1) and grandchild (F2)
Transgenerational inheritance	the effect on subsequent generation persists in the absence of the possibility of direct environmental exposure, such as effects persisting to the great-grandchild (F3) on the maternal line or effects of pre-pubertal paternal or grand paternal exposures in the male line