Physiological functions of imprinted genes

2002/06/25 by Benjamin Tycko, Ian M. Morison · 4 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting #Epigenetics and DNA Methylation #Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics

paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/jcp.10129

openalex publication_date 2002/06/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Genomic imprinting in gametogenesis marks a subset of mammalian genes for parent-of-origin-dependent monoallelic expression in the offspring. Embryological and classical genetic experiments in mice that uncovered the existence of genomic imprinting nearly two decades ago produced abnormalities of growth or behavior, without severe developmental malformations. Since then, the identification and manipulation of individual imprinted genes has continued to suggest that the diverse products of these genes are largely devoted to controlling pre- and post-natal growth, as well as brain function and behavior. Here, we review this evidence, and link our discussion to a website (http://www.otago.ac.nz/IGC) containing a comprehensive database of imprinted genes. Ultimately, these data will answer the long-debated question of whether there is a coherent biological rationale for imprinting.

Citations

• Completion of mouse embryogenesis requires both the maternal and paternal genomes
• Genomic imprinting in mammalian development: a parental tug-of-war
• p57KIP2, a structurally distinct member of the p21CIP1 Cdk inhibitor family, is a candidate tumor suppressor gene.

Cited by

• Genomic imprinting and parent-of-origin effects on complex traits
• Imprinted loci in domestic livestock species as epigenomic targets for artificial selection of complex traits
• Genome-wide assessment of imprinted expression in human cells
• Genomic imprinting [wikipedia]