KeyGenes Helps Predict Differentiated Humans iPSCsJune 15, 2015Cells differentiated from embryonic stem cells are generally phenotypically immature, so identifying what cell type they are can be a bit like trying to figure out what exactly the picture your child drew for you in kindergarten is supposed to be. “That’s lovely darling but…” Luckily, for biologists at least, a team of Dutch researchers […]
CpH Methylation Gets A Tissue Specific MakeoverJune 15, 2015In the latest show of the power of teamwork we see some of the biggest names in epigenetics join forces to unravel the mysteries of the methylome across different tissues, including the molecular cartographers who tackled the brain and the researchers who brought forth the predictive powers of Epigram. The talented team from the Salk Institute and UCSD have […]
A TAD of Disruption Shows the Importance of BoundariesJune 1, 2015If you’ve ever seen a polydactyl cat you might (understandably) live in fear of cats with thumbs. If we want to prevent the takeover by our feline friends we need to understand the cause of this limb anomaly. Luckily, researchers led by Stefan Mundlos have done just that by asking if 3D chromosome structure data […]
DNAi Combines Self-Destructing DNA with CRISPRMay 29, 2015Have you ever watched a spy move and felt yourself craving spy gadgets, such as explosive chewing gum, or a tricked out Aston Martin? Well if you are a genome-engineering scientist you can now get your very own spy gadget – self-destructing DNA! But this cool creation isn’t just to fulfill your 007 dreams, it […]
miRNA-Switches Makes Stem Cell Selection Pure and SimpleMay 28, 2015As any sports coach, hopeful lottery winner, or child in a candy store will tell you, an effective selection strategy is vitally important to a successful outcome. Selection is also an important concept for scientists and clinicians hoping to take advantage of the ability that human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have to differentiate into multiple […]
