Our principle aim in the lab is to challenge scientific dogmas. Mainly, we aim to use powerful genetic tools to discover novel biological principles. While we are studying many different topics, we recently put special emphasis on mechanisms by which RNA affects formation and inheritance of complex traits. While linking rare Mendelian traits to specific sequence variations has been accelerated, the genetic basis of many common diseases is not understood despite the undertaking of many genome wide association studies. It appears that our current genetic models fall short of faithfully explaining the inheritance of most complex traits. The inheritance of acquired characteristics is a topic of long-standing interest and controversy. While some of the classic Lamarckian ideas have been dismissed (Weismann 1889), more recent studies suggest that certain traits acquired by an animal during its lifetime may be transmitted to next generations.