Which factor has the greatest influence on the expression of a genetic disorder such as Prader-Willi syndrome or Angelman syndrome through the process of genomic imprinting?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Genomic imprinting involves the differential methylation of genes depending on whether they are inherited from the mother or the father. In disorders such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome, the affected genes are located on the same region of chromosome 15, but they are expressed differently depending on whether they are inherited from the father or the mother. Therefore, the gender of the parent transmitting the deletion (either paternal or maternal) has the greatest influence on the expression of the disorder through genomic imprinting. Age at time of conception and the number of bases deleted may also be factors, but they do not have as strong and direct an impact as parental gender.

Which Factor Has the Greatest Influence on the Expression of a Genetic