Genomic imprinting: Seeds of conflict

In Greek mythology, Medea betrays her homeland to assist her lover, the adventurer Jason, to obtain the Golden fleece. In exile she bears him two children, but later discovers that Jason plans to marry the King of Corynth’s daughter, so that their future children will become heirs to the throne. Seeking revenge, Medea poisons the bride and slaughters her children, leaving Jason with no chances of descent. Alluding to this classical example of infanticide, several genes with maternal effects upon embryo viability have been named after Medea. Recent studies [1,2] of the Arabidopsis MEDEA (MEA) gene have provided insights into the process of genetic imprinting in plants.