In: Biology
What is imprinting and what role does it play in endosperm development?
In Genomic imprinting, genes of parents of origin is expressed in the offspring. It occurs in embryo in animals and endosperm in flowering plants.
Endosperm which is produced by fertilization of central cell in the female gametophyte in the 2:1 ratio of maternal to paternal genes.
Imprinted genes are regulated and activated in endosperms by DNA methylation and histone modifications and affects the development of endosperm so that a limited supply of parental resources are supplied to the developing endosperm.
Imprinted genes directs the endosperm to develop in such a way that it can support the developing embryo formed after fertilization.
It also puts a check on the parthenocarpic development of seed. It ensures that the seed must be fertilized for the formation of embryo and proper nourishment is provided to the growing embryo.