Epigenetic Drugs: More Than Hype in the PipelineNovember 5, 2009It’s 10 p.m. on a Friday night, and you’re still stuck in the lab doing ChIP assays. As the piercing whine of the sonicator frays your last nerve, you ask yourself again, “Why did I go into epigenetics research…why couldn’t I have chosen something simpler and more straightforward (like rocket science)?” At times like these, […]
The Shores of CpG Islands Reveal Differences Between iPS and ES cellsNovember 5, 2009With headquarters in Del Mar, CA, you don’t have to tell us that the shores are where the action is, so it makes sense that the shores of CpG islands are a hot spot for epigenetic movers and shakers like DNAm. In fact, researchers have found evidence in the shores of CpG islands that induced […]
To “B-cell” Or Not To “B-cell” – DNA Methylation & Stem Cell FateNovember 4, 2009We doubt that Shakespeare was thinking of DNA methylation and stem cell differentiation when he penned that famous line, and yet somehow it seems to apply here. Recent work led by Frank Rosenbauer at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin has revealed some of the first insights into the causal relationships between […]
Context Is Key for miRNA Target SitesNovember 4, 2009If your boss were to tell you that you’re acting like a real ass, you’d probably start packing your desk, unless you’re auditioning for Eeyore in that upcoming Winnie the Pooh play in which case you’d be stoked. So much in life is all about the context…and miRNA regulation is no exception. A recent report […]
miRNA Target Prediction Program Round-upOctober 21, 2009As miRNA discovery continues to skyrocket, the obvious question is: What are these miRNAs targeting? Lately, that topic seems to be as hot as any “Jon & Kate Plus 8” gossip. Several programs have been created to get at that question, and predict targets for miRNAs, but it’s hard to know which ones are really […]
