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The causes and consequences of random and non‐random X chromosome inactivation in humans
Author(s) -
Brown CJ,
Robinson WP
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1399-0004
pISSN - 0009-9163
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-0004.2000.580504.x
Subject(s) - x inactivation , chromatin , x chromosome , epigenetics , skewed x inactivation , genetics , biology , heterochromatin , chromosome , gene silencing , evolutionary biology , dna , gene
X chromosome (X) inactivation is a remarkable biological process including the choice and cis ‐limited inactivation of one X, as well as the stable maintenance of this silencing by epigenetic chromatin alterations. The process results in females generally being mosaic for two populations of cells – one with each parental X active. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of how inactivation works, as well as the causes and clinical implications of deviations from random inactivation.