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One more step forward for genetics
A team at the CNRS has just identified the crucial role of maternal serotonin in foetal development. For the moment, only in mice. Serotonin is a known neuro-transmitter, but what is new is its involvement in gestation.
During pregnancy, some of the mother’s genes intervene directly in the development of the foetus. For instance genes coding serotonin, the famous “pleasure hormone”. “We discovered that the main source of this neuro-mediator in mice in early stages of development is of maternal origin, not of foetal origin”, say the authors.
For the first time, therefore, scientists have an example of an embryonic gene being supplanted by the maternal gene. The eventual objective is to identify genes of maternal origin that are involved in certain hereditary diseases such as autism or gastro-intestinal problems. “This should enable us to tackle prevention and treatment from a different angle”.
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