Link between Maternal Genes and Miscarriages

  Link between Maternal Genes and Miscarriages

   Aneuploidy causes losses in the first trimester of pregnancy. This condition is more common in egg cells and is when cells have abnormal numbers of chromosomes. A study showed there was an association with SMC1B, which is a gene for a protein that holds chromosome pieces together. And another association with aneuploidy was found with C12orf39 that is responsible for controlling chromosome interaction during cell division. Aneuploidy is strongly related with a lower number of crossing over of chromosomes during the recombination stage. The study concluded that crossing over is important for making sure eggs have the correct amount of chromosomes.

    

Figure 1. A diagram showing the crossing over stage in Prophase I of meiosis that creates different combinations of chromosomes.

    Although this research might not be able to prevent pregnancy loss, it is a step in the right direction. Now scientists are able to know the starting point of miscarriages, and, with time, could potentially be used to provide mothers with predictions of risk. In order for the pregnancy to occur, the crossing over stage must ensure that the egg has the sufficient amount of chromosomes. These findings help humans know more about their anatomy to lead to better research.

This topic is very interesting. I know people who have had miscarriages so I am very curious about these findings. It does makes sense that genes that control chromosome interaction are related to aneuploidy since it occurs during crossing over. However, I would like to know why sometimes this crossing over implication occurs and if there will ever be prevention. Also, to what extent does the amount of error in recombination ensure a pregnancy loss will occur? There is still room for research and hopefully in the future, scientists will be able to prevent aneuploidy by being able to mediate recombination of chromosomes. 

Source:

https://www.livescience.com/health/fertility-pregnancy-birth/in-a-first-study-links-maternal-genes-to-risk-of-pregnancy-loss 

Another source specifically about crossing over:

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Crossing-Over 

Brooke McMonagle

02/17/2026