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    • Figure 1. 

      Mechanism of epigenetic influence on offspring health by paternal exposure. This process consists of four stages: (a) Environmental exposure phase: a father's nutritional status, dietary habits, age, and lifestyle choices influence spermatogenesis, primarily through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. (b) Epididymal and sperm maturation phase: during the epididymal phase, environmentally responsive small RNAs, including tsRNAs and miRNAs, are loaded into sperm via epididymosomes, enabling sperm to carry specific epigenetic information. (c) Fertilization process: sperm deliver this epigenetic information—comprising DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small RNAs—to the oocyte, altering early embryonic gene expression, which may predispose offspring to adult diseases. (d) Transgenerational effects: persistent epigenetic alterations in the germline can directly impact F1 offspring's health, while true transgenerational effects, such as increased cancer risk or metabolic dysfunction, emerge in subsequent generations (F2 and F3). Produced using Figdraw.