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Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.

Imprinting

Imprinting

Behavioral imprinting is observed in some newborn animals and occurs when they develop strong and specific attachments to another animal (usually a parent) following brief, early-life exposures. Offspring imprint onto parents within a brief period after birth or hatching; this time window is called the critical period. Once imprinting occurs, the bond established between the parents and their offspring is usually long-lasting.

X-Inactivation

X-Inactivation

The human X chromosome contains over ten times the number of genes as in the Y chromosome. Since males have only one X chromosome, and females have two, one might expect females to produce twice as many of the proteins, with undesirable results.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Single Oocyte Bisulfite Mutagenesis

Single Oocyte Bisulfite Mutagenesis

Published on: June 27, 2012

Mammalian genomic imprinting.

Marisa S Bartolomei¹, Anne C Ferguson-Smith

¹Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19063, USA. bartolom@mail.med.upenn.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology

|May 18, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Mammalian development relies on imprinted genes, which are expressed from only one parent. This study identifies imprinted genes, their regulatory elements, and mechanisms, highlighting areas for future research.

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Area of Science:

Genetics
Epigenetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Normal mammalian development requires parental genomic contributions.
Imprinted genes are expressed from a single parental allele, with ~100 identified in mammals.
Imprinted genes are regulated by imprinting control regions (ICRs) with parental-specific epigenetic modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe the identification and functions of imprinted genes.
To elucidate cis-acting control sequences, trans-acting factors, and imprinting mechanisms.
To define research questions for further investigation into imprinting.

Main Methods:

Identification of imprinted genes and their functions.
Analysis of cis-acting regulatory elements (ICRs) and epigenetic modifications.
Investigation of imprinting regulation mechanisms, including CTCF-dependent insulators and long noncoding RNAs.

Main Results:

Detailed description of imprinted gene identification and functions.
Characterization of imprinting control regions (ICRs) and their epigenetic regulation.
Explanation of mechanisms regulating clustered and unclustered imprinted genes.

Conclusions:

Imprinted genes are crucial for mammalian development.
Understanding imprinting mechanisms requires further research into regulatory elements and factors.
Future research should focus on defining outstanding questions in the field of imprinting.