FIGURE 1.

Left: Maternal founder multi/transgenerational inheritance in the female line

Exposure occurs during the lifetime of the F0 generation (white mouse). The F1 generation (blue fetus) and its developing germline (orange germline), which produces the F2 generation, are also exposed. The F1 generation gestates the F2 generation (orange fetus), whose germline (green germline) produces the F3 generation. Multigenerational phenotyping begins in the F2 generation (orange mouse), which is derived from the originally exposed F1 germline (blue fetus, orange germline). Transgenerational phenotyping begins in the F3 generation (green mouse), which is the first that had no direct contact (via gestation or germline) with the original exposure.

Note that the original exposure need not necessarily occur during F0 gestation (F0 pregnancy with F1), as any exposure prior to pregnancy may chronically alter uterine environment or other pregnancy parameters consequential to F1 development.

Right: Paternal founder multi/transgenerational inheritance in the male line

Exposure occurs during the lifetime of the F0 generation (white mouse), also directly exposing the F0 germline (blue germline), which produces the F1 generation. Multigenerational inheritance begins in the F1 generation (blue mouse), which is derived from the originally exposed F0 germline. The F1 germline (green germline), which produces the F2 generation, never contacts the original exposure. Thus, transgenerational phenotyping begins in the F2 generation.

Non-color accessibility image description: Left side, top = white mouse, blue fetus, orange germline; Left side, second to top = Blue mouse, orange fetus, green germline; Left side, third to top = orange mouse, green fetus; Left side, bottom = green mouse; Right side, top = white mouse, blue germline; Right side, middle = blue mouse, green germline; Right side, bottom = green mouse.