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Investigating imprinting at the Kcnk9 locus

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000S222
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Gavin Kelsey
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	113,197
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/07/2008
End date	31/03/2012
Duration	45 months

Abstract

We inherit genes from our fathers and mothers and for most of our genes the copies we receive from either parent are equally active. An important exception to this general rule occurs in a process called genomic imprinting, whereby one gene copy is deliberately silenced. These imprinted genes are important in determining how the fetus grows and how infants adapt their physiology to life outside the womb. Imprinted genes behave in this manner because they are marked in different ways in the male and female germ cells (sperm and eggs). How these genes are so marked is not fully known, and it is important to find out, because if the marking process goes wrong problems in fertility or developmental abnormalities may arise. The marking involves a modification of the gene by DNA methylation, which can be faithfully passed on from the germ cells to all of the cells of the offspring. In this study, we are investigating how the specific organisation of these genes in the chromosome signals to the molecular machinery to add DNA methylation at the correct sites.

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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