Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
Uniparental disomy in cancer
Musaffe Tuna1, Sakari Knuutila, Gordon B Mills
1Department of Cancer Genetics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mtuna9@gmail.com
Uniparental disomy (UPD), where both chromosome copies come from one parent, can cause developmental diseases or cancer. This review explores UPD mechanisms and their link to cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Uniparental disomy (UPD) occurs when both chromosomes in a pair originate from a single parent.
- UPD can lead to genetic disorders or cancer through homozygosity or imprinting errors.
- Constitutional UPD arises from meiotic errors, impacting development, while acquired UPD stems from mitotic errors in somatic cells, potentially driving cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the underlying mechanisms of Uniparental Disomy (UPD).
- To explore the emerging association between UPD and cancer development and progression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of genetic and cellular mechanisms.
- Analysis of UPD's role in developmental diseases and cancer.
- Synthesis of current understanding of UPD and imprinting.
Main Results:
- UPD can cause disease via gene homozygosity (mutations, methylation, microRNAs) or aberrant imprinting.
- Constitutional UPD is linked to meiotic errors and developmental issues.
- Acquired UPD, arising from mitotic errors, is implicated in cancer progression.
Conclusions:
- UPD is a significant genetic phenomenon with implications for human health.
- Understanding UPD mechanisms is crucial for diagnosing developmental disorders and developing cancer therapies.
More Related Videos
09:30Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy on a Semiconductor Based Next-Generation Sequencing Platform
Published on: August 17, 2022
11:54Microsatellite DNA Genotyping and Flow Cytometry Ploidy Analyses of Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Hydatidiform Molar Tissues
Published on: October 20, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction
Nondisjunction
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell