Assisted Reproduction Treatments May Cause Imprinting ProblemsJanuary 26, 2012These days, there is more than one way to make a baby. Unfortunately though, the newer ways still don’t have things down to a science yet. Assisted reproduction treatments (or technology, known as ART) are clinical procedures designed to help patients with fertility issues get pregnant. But reports have documented a rise in cases of […]
5-hmC Stability a Mixed Bag in Neural Development and AgingJanuary 25, 2012Just like tweets about the U.S. Presidential race, updates on the function of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) keep pouring in. For a while, no one really knew what the mod did, but new reports find that while some 5-hmC marks are stable, and others are dynamic, both may be critical for neural development right after birth and […]
3D Chromatin Structure’s Special Effects on TranscriptionJanuary 25, 2012Judging from showbiz ad campaigns, their latest motto seems to be “Everything is better in 3D!” Maybe that thought inspired this new study that uncovered how the 3-dimensional structure of chromatin has some very special effects on the regulation of gene transcription. Researchers from the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) decided to take a look […]
Microparticles Let miRNAs Cruise the Circulatory Super-HighwayJanuary 23, 2012MicroRNAs have attracted interest as potential blood biomarkers for various cardiovascular diseases, but researchers haven’t quite figured out how they avoid destruction while in the bloodstream. Sort of like tiny outlaws on the run, while traveling the circulatory super-highway miRNAs must nimbly evade the RNAases that might catch them in order to reach their destination […]
DNA Methylation: 2011 Editor’s FavoritesJanuary 11, 2012DNA methylation research had a little something for everyone in 2011. Not only was it linked to cancer, diet, post-traumatic stress, socio-economic status and heritability; but more was learned about 5-hydroxymethylcytosine as well. As if that wasn’t enough, two new cytosine variants, 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytsosine, joined the party this year too. We can’t wait to […]
