GENETIC IMPRINTING Meaning and
Definition
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Genetic imprinting is a phenomenon in genetics that involves the silencing or expression of specific genes based on their parent of origin. It is an epigenetic process that occurs during early development, where certain genes become chemically marked or "imprinted" to be expressed or suppressed, depending on whether they were inherited from the mother or the father.
During genetic imprinting, specific regions of DNA are marked with chemical groups that can attach to the DNA molecule, such as methyl groups. These imprinted marks determine whether a gene will be activated or remain silent. The marks are usually established in the germline cells, which are responsible for passing on genetic information to future generations.
The process of genetic imprinting plays a crucial role in normal development and proper functioning of various tissues and organs. Imprinted genes are involved in regulating growth, development, and metabolism, among other biological processes. Alterations or disruptions in genetic imprinting can result in various genetic disorders and diseases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome.
Genetic imprinting is unique in that it often affects only one allele of a gene pair, while the other allele remains unaffected. This parent-specific gene expression pattern allows for the proper dosage of gene products and can influence the behavior of certain traits or diseases. Additionally, genetic imprinting can contribute to the evolutionary process by influencing the survival and reproduction of individuals based on their parent of origin.
Common Misspellings for GENETIC IMPRINTING
- fenetic imprinting
- venetic imprinting
- benetic imprinting
- henetic imprinting
- yenetic imprinting
- tenetic imprinting
- gwnetic imprinting
- gsnetic imprinting
- gdnetic imprinting
- grnetic imprinting
- g4netic imprinting
- g3netic imprinting
- gebetic imprinting
- gemetic imprinting
- gejetic imprinting
- gehetic imprinting
- genwtic imprinting
- genstic imprinting
- gendtic imprinting
- genrtic imprinting
Etymology of GENETIC IMPRINTING
The term "Genetic Imprinting" is derived from two different sources.
The word "genetic" comes from the Greek word "genetikos", meaning "origin" or "generation". It is derived from the root word "genesis", which means "birth" or "creation". In the context of genetics, "genetic" refers to the study of genes, heredity, and the variation of inherited characteristics.
On the other hand, "imprinting" is rooted in the Latin word "imprimere", which means "to press upon" or "to impress". In the field of genetics, "imprinting" is used to describe an epigenetic phenomenon where certain genes are expressed or silenced depending on whether they were inherited from the mother or the father. This concept was first observed and described by geneticist C.H. Waddington in the early 1950s.
