Genomic imprinting
A) can be triggered by smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants, such as mercury or lead.
B) occurs when alleles are chemically marked such that one pair member is activated, regardless of its makeup.
C) is more likely to affect males because their sex chromosomes do not match.
D) is always permanent, cannot be erased in the next generation, and occurs in all offspring if it occurs in one.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genomic imprinting is a phenomenon that occurs during the development of an embryo where specific genes are marked by chemical modifications that affect how they are expressed. This process results in certain genes being turned on or off depending on which parent they were inherited from. Therefore, option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because genomic imprinting is a natural biological process and is not triggered by smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants. Option C is also incorrect because genomic imprinting affects both males and females equally, and it is not related to the matching of sex chromosomes. Finally, option D is incorrect because genomic imprinting can be erased in the next generation, specifically during the formation of gametes, and it does not necessarily occur in all offspring.

Genomic Imprinting