Int. J. Dev. Biol. 44: 145 - 150 (2000)

Vol 44, Issue 1

Special Issue: Developmental Biology in Britain

Igf2 imprinting in development and disease

Published: 15 January 2000

W Reik, M Constancia, W Dean, K Davies, L Bowden, A Murrell, R Feil, J Walter and G Kelsey

Developmental Genetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom. wolf.reik@bbsrc.ac.uk

Abstract

Igf2 is one of the first imprinted genes discovered and occupies a centre stage in the study of imprinting. This is because it has dramatic effects on the control of fetal growth, it is involved in growth disorders and in cancer, it interacts with products of other imprinted genes, and its imprinting status is under complex regulation in a cluster of tightly linked imprinted genes. Here we review briefly the key features of Igf2 imprinting in normal development and in disease, and hope to show what a fascinating subject of study this gene and its biology provides.