what is the role of imprinting in human genetic disorders?
Genomic imprinting is an example of epigenetic inheritance in which differences in gene function depend on whether the allele was inherited from the mother or father. Many disorders appear to involve epigenetic alterations to imprinted genes. Genes involved in imprinting play important roles in both preâ and postânatal growth and neurodevelopment. Imprinting disorders include several childhood genetic disorders such as PraderâWilli, Angelman and BeckwithâWiedemann syndromes, as well as several types of cancer including Wilms tumour. Recent evidence suggests a correlation between assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and imprinting disorders, a phenomenon requiring more inâdepth studies as the prevalence of ART is increasing.