Question 4: Genomic Integrity and Transgenerational Inheritance The lecturer describes how ddm1 mutants in Arabidopsis appear relatively normal in the first generation but show severe developmental defects by the fifth generation (F5). • Task: Explain the causal link between the loss of DDM1-mediated DNA methylation and the accumulation of physical DNA mutations across generations. • Logic Challenge: If you were to reintroduce a functional DDM1 gene into an F5 mutant line through crossing, would you expect the offspring to immediately return to a wild-type phenotype? Justify your answer by distinguishing between epimutations and transposon-induced DNA mutations
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