Cultural conditions, in vitro gametes and early embryos manipulating can be followed by the disorders of genomic imprinting — epigenetic mechanism providing differential expression of certain genes depending on their parental origin during mammalian embryogenesis. Significant number of genetic diseases such as Angelman, Prader—Willi, Beckwith—Wiedemann syndromes, Wilms’ tumor, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomiosarcoma, etc. are associated with genomic imprinting disorders. The factors, which can potentially cause the development of genomic imprinting diseases after assisted reproduction are considered in the review.
Isaev D.A., Zaeva V.V., Bolt A.I., Volodina O.Iu. ART and genomic imprinting diseases (a review). Problemy Reproduktsii. 2005. №2. P. 14-18. (Russian)