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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
04:38
Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
Published on: March 5, 2020
Sex dependent imprinting effects on complex traits in mice
Reinmar Hager1, James M Cheverud, Larry J Leamy
1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. reinmar.hager@cantab.net
BMC Evolutionary Biology
|November 4, 2008
Summary
This study reveals that genomic imprinting effects can be sex-dependent, impacting complex traits differently in males and females. Researchers identified 13 loci with sex-specific imprinting, advancing our understanding of epigenetic variation.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Epigenetics
- Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis
Background:
- Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism causing monoallelic gene expression.
- Imprinting influences complex traits across species, but its sex-dependence is unexplored.
- Previous research noted sex-dependent genetic effects, but not sex-dependent imprinting effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-dependent genomic imprinting effects on complex traits.
- To empirically assess theoretical predictions on the evolution of sex-dependent imprinting.
- To identify loci exhibiting sex-specific imprinting.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide scan in an intercross between two divergent mouse strains.
- Analysis of complex growth and body composition traits.
- Detection of sex-specific differences in imprinting effects.
Main Results:
- First evidence for sex-dependent genomic imprinting effects, independent of sex chromosomes.
- Identified 13 loci on 11 chromosomes with sex-specific imprinting.
- Most loci showed imprinting in only one sex (8 in males, 6 in females); one locus was sex-dependent for different traits in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Genomic imprinting effects can be sex-dependent.
- Sex-specific imprinting analysis can reveal novel imprinted loci.
- Current data do not fully support evolutionary predictions; further research on selection pressures is needed.
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