Question

As discussed in lecture, maternal-fetal conflict occurs when natural selection for fetal gene expression and maternal gene expression oppose one another. Examples of maternal-fetal conflict arise particularly during nutritional acquisition. A similar phenomenon plays out in fetal cells during development, wherein some genes are maternally expressed and some paternally expressed--a phenomenon known as "genomic imprinting". Expression of these genes from the correct parent is critical for development of the fetus, and expression of a chromosomal region from the wrong parent may result in one of several developmental disorders in humans.

A) is genomic imprinting expected to evolve more readily in species with: Monogamous mating (species in which mating benefits both sexes relatively equally) Non-monogamous mating (species in which mating benefits one sex more than the other)
B) Consider a situation in which the maternal copy of a gene is normally expressed, but for some reason, the paternal copy is instead expressed in the developing fetus. Would we expect the following phenotypes to increase or decrease in this situation? (You can indicate your answer by circling, highlighting, or anything that makes it clear.)
Increase / Decrease. Infant birth weight
Increase/Decrease. Insulin production in mother
Increase/Decrease. Size/invasiveness of placenta

Answer 1

A. According to the exercise, the evolution of the genomic impression between monogamous species is more likely, this situation can be deduced by the fact that the inheritance is going to be constantly determined by the same parents, which makes the hereditary cycles very similar for each child. .

B. When the newborn is born, its weight reduction is known, a situation determined by the loss of fluid after the change of environment from the uterus to the outside

During pregnancy, insulin requirements increase due to peripheral resistance to insulin tissues by different hormones , which generates the perception that the production of insulin in the mother decreases.

During pregnancy, the placenta increases its invasion to generate better support for the fetus.