Maternal imprinting

Maternal imprinting is an epigenetic process where certain genes inherited from the mother are "marked" differently, affecting how they're expressed without changing the DNA sequence. These marks can turn off or reduce the activity of specific genes in the offspring. This regulation influences traits and development, and is important for normal growth. Imprinting is selective; only some genes are affected, and the parent of origin determines how they are expressed. Disruptions in maternal imprinting can lead to developmental disorders or health issues.