A recent study published in *Nature Ecology & Evolution* explores how epigenetic changes can be inherited in animals without altering their DNA. While mammals typically erase epigenetic information after fertilization, this resetting is not observed in invertebrates like sea anemones. Researchers experimented with the sea anemone *Nematostella vectensis*, removing DNA methylation, which surprisingly did not disrupt normal development. Instead, it revealed hidden 'jumping genes' that could potentially threaten genome stability. Dr. Alex de Mendoza from Queen Mary highlighted that some abnormal methylation states persisted in offspring, demonstrating that induced epigenetic variations can be passed down. This challenges the traditional understanding of epigenetics and suggests that the original function of DNA methylation may have been to protect active genes from disruptive elements. The study provides insights into the evolutionary origins of gene regulation and shows how incomplete epigenetic resetting can facilitate heritable variation, which may serve as a foundation for evolutionary change.