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*** Wikipedia notes: We would like this to be published on the Prader Willi Syndrome page under its own section titled “Evolution.” ***

 Evolution of PWS 

The “Kinship Theory of Genomic Imprinting” describes evolutionary conflict and cooperation between maternal and paternal lineages as well as maternal-offspring conflict. This theory presents the concept of genomic imprinting responsible for Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). In PWS, genomic imprinting of chromosome 15 facilitates the preferential expression of maternal genes over the homologous paternal genes.

Typically, paternal genes of chromosome 15 stimulate infant suckling behavior and control satiety, while maternal genes drive early weaning and encourage self-feeding. Genetic imbalance in PWS results in irregular feeding behaviors indicative of maternal gene dominance. This conflict translates into two characteristic phases of feeding behavior in PWS: poor suckling during infancy and early-childhood hyperphagia.