Question

In an experiment with mice, you’ve determined there’s a maternal allele that’s active while the paternal allele is repressed. The gene codes for a growth factor. You treat the mating pair with 5-aza-deoxycytidine. Explain what the effects on these alleles would be in the offspring of this mating pair.

Answer 1

In the mice experiment, the paternal allele is repressed while the maternal allele is active. The gene which is composed of this allels codes for a growth factor. We are treating the mating pair with 5 azadeoxycytidine( Decitabine). This drug carries out the function of promoter demethylation. Pharmaceutically decitabine is used to treat dysfunctional blood cells and certain cases of leukemia. Therefore, the mating pair will undergo gene expression in a way to inhibit DNA methylation.