Leaky genes??

I just read something incredibly exciting that I want to share with you. The reference can be found at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=379123&action=stream&blobtype=pdf

You know how we have been told that maternal genes have been silenced and that in the absence of the paternal genes, the PWS child must do without? Well, that may not be true. Evidently the maternal genes are not truly silenced but are often leaky.

More importantly, there is a genetic theory (unproven) that suggests that these genes may be turned on again (at least partially) in response to environment. The rheostat model suggests that a silenced gene can become activated, possibly even within the lifetime of a single individual.

If this is the case, it should be possible to "cure" PWS children by providing them with environmental stimulation that would turn on these silenced genes (at least partially). I would suggest that the necessary stimulation would resemble the physical therapy and occupational therapy and movement and talking and sensory stimulation that we are providing our children from a very young age.

This may be one explanation for the impressive outcomes that are being seen in this new generation of PWS kids.