Nature AND Nurture Both Contribute to DNA MethylationJune 1, 2012A recent pub led by a talented research team might call for a ceasefire in the old “nature vs. nurture” argument. Researchers in The Netherlands and the U.S. say their new study on people conceived or born during the Dutch Famine of 1944-1945 piles on even more evidence that the prenatal environment and your genes […]
For Histone Variants It’s All in the NameMay 31, 2012Understanding the nomenclature for histone variants can sometimes be like deciphering an ancient language without a translation app. And as more variants are discovered without a naming convention to guide the process, the confusion just keeps growing. That’s why Steve Henikoff and the rest of the attendees of the EMBO Workshop on Histone Variants last […]
Allele-Specific Histone Modifications Frequent Disease LociMay 24, 2012Just as “identical” twins can sometimes have a few noticeable differences (one has a mole on her cheek, the other doesn’t), alleles that are copies of the same gene also can be different. Allele-specific methylation (ASM) might get all the attention, but now researchers in the U.K. say that allele-specific histone modification (ASHM) might be […]
Try Zymo’s EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning™ Kit FreeMay 24, 2012Give the fastest bisulfite conversion kit on the market, the EZ DNA Methylation-Lightning Kit, a spin without spending a dime! Zymo Research is now offering free samples of the Lightning Kit through their website. Just look for the Sample Available icon in the right hand column, fill out the form and you’ll have a trial […]
New Epigenetic Analysis Methods to Watch in 2012May 24, 2012Based on what we’ve seen so far in journals, conferences and interviews, 2012 could be a banner year for epigenetic analysis methods. New twists on old tricks, and futuristic technology advances have converged to create some really exciting new approaches in the field. Here are just a few that you’ll want to keep track of […]