Bridging Maternal Effects and Epitranscriptomics: A Novel Perspective in Developmental Biology

Maternal effects have long been recognized as powerful non-genetic influences on offspring development, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects remain only partially understood. In parallel, epitranscriptomics, an emerging field centered on chemical modifications to RNA, has revealed new layers of gene regulation with implications for cell fate, plasticity, and response to environmental cues. In this perspective article, a conceptual link is proposed between maternal effects and epitranscriptomic mechanisms, focusing on how maternal environments may shape offspring phenotypes through RNA modifications. Evidence is examined from diverse systems, including maternal deposition of modified RNAs, environmental modulation of RNA-modifying enzymes, and early developmental windows sensitive to maternal inputs. Particular attention is given to how such mechanisms might operate in utero or during early embryogenesis to mediate lasting phenotypic outcomes. While direct experimental evidence remains limited, the potential for maternal cues to influence the offspring epitranscriptome is highlighted as a promising area for future research. To articulate this emerging connection, the concept of “maternal RNA imprinting” is proposed, the idea that offspring development is shaped by maternal cues via targeted RNA modifications. This article aims not only to synthesize emerging insights across fields but also to stimulate interdisciplinary discussion and encourage investigation into the unexplored intersections of maternal biology and RNA regulation.