The C. elegans SET-2/SET1 histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4) methyltransferase preserves genome stability in the germline.

•Animals lacking SET-2, the C. elegans orthologue of the SET1 histone methyltransferase, show increased sensitivity to DNA damage.•Sensitivity to DNA damage increases between generations in set-2 null mutant animals.•The DNA damage response is intact in set-2 mutants.•set-2 mutants are defective in the repair of induced double strand breaks.