Genome Organization Fashions an Immune-evading Parasite CoatOctober 24, 2018One might describe Trypanosoma brucei as a moderately fashionable parasite, as it changes its outer coat faster than models can strut their stuff down the exclusive catwalks in Paris or Milan! Other than making this troublesome unicellular protozoan look very sharp, its ever-changing coat helps it to keep out of reach of the host immune system […]
CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated Deletion of Imprinted Genes Enables Same-Sex Reproduction in MiceOctober 23, 2018Having the birds and bees talk can be a little awkward for some parents, but at least the rules were straight forward. Well one of those basic rules—that you need a sperm and an egg to make an embryo—just isn’t true anymore. A seminal discovery in mammalian genetics was that fertilization in mice required maternal […]
Go CRISPR-Go Go, This Genome Organization Study B. Good!October 18, 2018There aren’t many studies exciting enough to make you jump out your lab coat and rock’n’roll round the lab like it’s the 50s, but a recently reported new application of CRISPR might just start your toes tapping and your heads nodding. This new article does not originate from “Deep down in Louisiana close to New […]
Twins R A Help for Studying Methylation in Rheumatoid ArthritisOctober 9, 2018If you think the best thing about being an identical twin is pulling off great pranks in school, think again. Identical (monozygotic) twins can also use their powers for good. The lab of Jane Worthington (University of Manchester, UK) has harnessed the power of twins to examine DNA methylation in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Because RA […]
Colossal New Roadmap Study Provides Single-Chromosome View on Sequence-Dependent Allele-Specific MethylationOctober 7, 2018Colossal, gigantic, mammoth, immense; none of these adjectives appropriately describes the amount of research carried out or curated by the National Institute of Health Roadmap Epigenomics Mapping Consortium, whose final goal is to produce a public resource of human epigenomic data to drive forward basic biology and disease-oriented research. As part of this research, scientists […]
