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Imprinting

Definition(s)

The process by which maternally and paternally derived chromosomes are uniquely chemically modified leading to different expression of a certain gene or genes on those chromosomes depending on their parental origin

Definition from: GeneTestsThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. from the University of Washington and Children's Health System, Seattle

A phenomenon in which the disease phenotype depends on which parent passed on the disease gene. For instance, both Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes are inherited when the same part of chromosome 15 is missing. When the father's complement of 15 is missing, the child has Prader-Willi, but when the mother's complement of 15 is missing, the child has Angelman syndrome.

Definition from: Human Genome Project InformationThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. at the U.S. Department of Energy

A biochemical phenomenon that determines, for certain genes, which one of the pair of alleles, the mother's or the father's, will be active in that individual.

Definition from: Office of Rare DiseasesThis link leads to a site outside Genetics Home Reference. at the National Institutes of Health

Related discussion in the Handbook

 
Published: January 23, 2009