On Aug. 28, 2024, Northwestern University and University of Texas-Southwestern announced results of a study that found bacterial cells can “remember” brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings. Researchers found these changes are not encoded in the cell’s genetics, but the cell still passes memories of them to its offspring — for multiple generations.

This discovery challenged long-held assumptions of how the simplest organisms transmit and inherit physical traits, and could be leveraged for new medical applications. The study was published in the journal Science Advances.