Male or female? “Cancer-germline” genes set the first marks

What is it about?

The article focuses on “Cancer-Germline” (CG) genes — a group of genes normally active only in sperm-producing cells of the testis. These genes were first discovered in the 1990s, when researchers noticed that they become abnormally active in various cancers. The present study investigates how these genes are regulated and when they first appear during human development. Using bioinformatics and embryonic data, the team found that many CG genes, especially those located on the X chromosome, are expressed in the very early stages of embryonic development, and only in female embryos. CG genes thus seem to mark the first molecular differences between males and females.

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Photo by digitale.de on Unsplash

Photo by digitale.de on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study highlights an epigenetic mechanism of parental imprinting that governs the early, female-specific activation of X-linked CG genes. Through this process, only the paternal copy of certain genes is expressed, revealing how epigenetic inheritance shapes the first molecular differences between the sexes. Later in life, the same regulatory marks can be lost in cancer, leading to the reactivation of these embryonic genes. By linking imprinting, development, and tumor biology, the research uncovers how early-life epigenetic patterns may resurface in disease.

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