… recent challengers of the established view of heredity propose a pluralistic model, whereby heredity reflects the transmission of gene alleles (genetic inheritance) alongside a variety of other factors that influence offspring phenotype (nongenetic inheritance). The pluralistic model of heredity points to the existence of variation in the nature of inheritance among taxa and traits. Although the existence of nongenetic inheritance is not in doubt, some putative mechanisms of nongenetic inheritance remain poorly understood, and controversy persists over the role and importance of nongenetic inheritance in shaping phenotypic variation and influencing the dynamics and course of evolution.
-- Bonduriansky, R. (2012). Rethinking heredity, again. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 27 (6), 330-336