Markdown syntax not being properly recognized

I'm working on a twenty skeleton and something strange is happening...markdown seems to be only partially recognized. For example bold and headings work but italics and lists don't...
When I copy/paste the same text here, or to an antimatter skeleton for example, it renders properly.
If someone could enlinghten me as to why this might be happening I would be really grateful

Can you link to an example .md file?

Thanks rhukster, I ended up switching to the antimatter theme because it seems to be more in synch with the grav documentation (for example, the custom.css file wasn't compiled by the twenty theme either).

Antimatter is the default theme, so it gets the most attention and focus. However, a new default theme is in the works :)