Igf2 imprinting in development and disease

Igf2 is one of the first imprinted genes discovered and occupies a centre s tage in the study of imprinting. This is because it has dramatic effects on the control of fetal growth, it is involved in growth disorders and in can cer, it interacts with products of other imprinted genes, and its imprintin g status is under complex regulation in a cluster of tightly linked imprint ed genes. Here we review briefly the key features of Igf2 imprinting in nor mal development and in disease, and hope to show what a fascinating subject of study this gene and its biology provides.