Award details

Parental gene imprinting and placental development

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L880
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Stephen Gaunt
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	3,703
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/1999
End date	12/01/2005
Duration	63 months

Abstract

We inherit a set of genes from our mother and from our father. For most, both copies are equally active irrespective of their parentage. A few genes defy this expectation: only one copy of an imprinted gene is normally expressed. Consequently, developmental processes in which imprinted genes function are especially susceptible to the effect of mutation, for example, problems in imprinting give rise to disturbances in fetal growth and predispose to some cancers. The molecular means by which one copy of an imprinted gene is silenced are poorly understood. Studying the effect of imprinting on placentation in different species, particularly those with different placental types, will be very informative with regard to both the evolution of gene imprinting and its broader significance in normal and abnormal development. Most studies on the differential expression of genes according to the sex of the parent from which they are derived (parental gene imprinting) have concentrated on embryonic development. However, imprinting is also very important in placental development.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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