Monozygotic twins reveal germline contribution to allelic expression differences.
Variation in the level of gene expression is a major determinant of a cell's function and characteristics. Common allelic variants of genes can be expressed at different levels and thus contribute to phenotypic diversity. We have measured allelic expression differences at heterozygous loci in monozygotic twins and in unrelated individuals. We show that the extent of differential allelic expression is highly similar within monozygotic twin pairs for many loci, implying that allelic differences in gene expression are under genetic control. We also show that even subtle departures from equal allelic expression are often genetically determined.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Vivian G
VG
Cheung
Alan
A
Bruzel
Joshua T
JT
Burdick
Michael
M
Morley
James L
JL
Devlin
Richard S
RS
Spielman
D000483:Alleles; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary