Genetic control of intra-uterine growth.
The expression of a few genes in the human genome depends on whether they are located on the maternal or on the paternal chromosome. This phenomenon is called genomic imprinting. Several of these genes have a role in normal embryonic and fetal growth, as indicated by an abnormal development associated with disturbed genomic imprinting. This has lead to the suggestion that the genomic imprinting has evolved as a mechanism to regulate embryonic and fetal growth.
Devriendt
K
K
Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. koen.devriendt@med.kuleuven.ac.be
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009030:Mosaicism; D010920:Placenta; D011247:Pregnancy