Probing the dynamics of complex microbial communities using DNA tridimensional contacts A fundamental question in biology is the extent to which physiological and environmentally-acquired information can be ransmitted from an animal to its descendants. I will present an example of trans-generational epigenetic inheritance where a temperature-induced change in gene expression lasts for less than 10 generations. I will also present an example of an inter-generational effect whereby the physiological state of an animal (it’s age) has a large influence on the characteristics of the next generation.