She eats her mother. Discovered a gene where the fetus gets nutrients

Recent studies of pregnant mice have uncovered an interesting dynamic in how a developing fetus can influence the mother’s body to her advantage. And it all boils down to an intriguing genetic game.

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This research is based on the concept of genetic imprinting. Simply put, it’s like a tug-of-war on a genetic level. When a child is conceived, he or she receives a set of genes from each parent. But not all genes are perceived equally. Some genes, thanks to genetic imprinting, can “calm” their mate in a couple, allowing them to play the lead role.

In a recent study, scientists at the University of Cambridge found that unborn mice use such a “noisy” gene inherited from their fathers to force their mothers to get more nutrients.

“This is the first direct evidence that a paternal gene manipulates the mother’s body to direct more nutrients to the baby,” said reproductive biologist Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, who was involved in the study.

The authors found that the baby mouse gene borrows a technique from a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf2), which is known to significantly affect fetal growth. In humans, insulin is a hormone that helps our bodies use or store sugar from food. However, pregnant women naturally develop insulin resistance. In this way, nutrients, especially glucose, become available to the growing child and are not consumed by the mother’s body.

In mice, the researchers found that the Igf2 gene effectively increased the mother’s insulin resistance and provided even more nutrients to the baby.

The surprising result of this discovery is that it may explain some growth disorders in humans. For example, if the paternal Igf2 gene is not working properly in the placenta, the baby may not receive enough nutrients and may be born smaller than average. In addition, the study found that puppies with the condition show early signs of diabetes and obesity later in life.

While this study is interesting, it’s important to remember that it was based on animal studies. More research is needed to fully understand the role of the Igf2 gene in human pregnancy and its interactions with other hormones. However, the findings offer new possibilities for understanding the complexity of fetal development and maternal health during pregnancy.

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