Paternal imprinting

Paternal imprinting is a biological process where certain genes inherited from the father are chemically marked, or "imprinted," so that only the mother's copies of those genes are active, while the father's copies are silenced. This epigenetic modification influences how genes are expressed without changing the underlying DNA sequence. It plays a crucial role in development, ensuring balanced gene activity from both parents. Malfunctions in this process can lead to disorders or developmental issues. Essentially, paternal imprinting is a way the body differentially utilizes genetic information depending on which parent it comes from.