A Pack of Hyenas Gets the Last Laugh: Early Social Networks Change DNA Methylation and Adult Stress IndicatorsAugust 1, 2021Ever wonder what that pack of hyenas is laughing about? Well, it may just be your social status. But don’t stress over it too much, because they’ve given us a truly wild idea in this DNA methylation marvel: Having more friends and spending more time with them in early life makes for less stress at […]
Selfies from Beyond the Grave: CelFiE Deconvolutes Cell-free DNA Methylation MessagesJuly 27, 2021Although receiving a selfie from beyond the grave might sound disturbing, posthumous snapshots from dying cells in the form of the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) they release can help prevent us from entering an early grave. Giving Snapchat a run for its money is a new program called CelFiE (CELl Free DNA Estimation via expectation-maximization), which […]
Getting Cheeky with Buccal Collection Methods: The Swab vs. Saliva Cellular Heterogeneity ShowdownJuly 23, 2021There’s nothing tongue in cheek when it comes to the consideration of buccal cell heterogeneity in sample collections methods. Although buccal epithelial cells are the target given their relationship with the brain DNA methylome, immune cells come along for the ride. As the lab of Jeffery Craig (Deakin University, Australia) has previously shown, buccal epithelial cell sample collection […]
An Oliver’s Twist on an Old Tale: Orphan CpGs Will Have You Asking for MoreJuly 17, 2021Move over Oliver Twist, there’s a new orphan in town to satisfy our hunger for stories of DNA methylation. Two new tales of orphan CpGs help them find a home in our hearts and epigenomes through the application of cutting-edge epigenomics techniques and genetic engineering to embryonic stem cells and neuronal cells. Making the Right Connections: […]
It’s Nature versus Nurture in an Epigenetic Rejuvenation Face-off!July 15, 2021The age-old battle of nature versus nurture has entered new frontiers with two exciting studies exploring different mechanisms that drive “epigenetic rejuvenation” – also known as the science of how our old and creaky DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks can be wound back into a frolicking and fancy-free state. Together, these studies demonstrate the two faces […]
