Long-term effects of the early life environment on alternative splicing

Early life environment has a lasting impact on alternative splicing in Acyrthosiphon pisum, with effects comparable in magnitude to morph-specific differences.

• Why it matters: Understanding how early environmental factors influence long-term molecular changes is crucial for insights into development and adaptation, yet most studies focus only on immediate effects.
• What they did: The study examined how maternal environment during embryonic development affects daughters' alternative splicing profiles, comparing these effects to morph-specific differences in a sample of pea aphids.
• The result: Findings show maternal environment influences splicing independently of morph identity and persists into adulthood, emphasizing the importance of environmental history in shaping long-term molecular and physiological traits.