Epigenetics Meets Cartography: Precision Mapping of Single Nucleosomes and LinkersMarch 14, 2018While we’ve asked before how nucleosomes find their way to the right spot on DNA, sometimes we’re left staring at sea monsters in the most tantalizing unexplored areas on our genome-wide maps. When it comes to nucleosomes, positioning is everything since it affects DNA accessibility for replication, repair, and gene expression. In order to understand […]
Old Fathers Pass on an Unwanted Aging DNA Methylation Profile to the Next GenerationMarch 1, 2018Great looks, a well-worn leather jacket, and a wide-ranging collection of old vinyl records represent great examples of inheritances that fathers happily pass on to their grateful children. However, new findings from the lab of Dan Ehninger (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany) show that older dads can also pass on an intergenerational effect […]
The Single-Cell Trifecta: Nucleosome Occupancy, DNA Methylation, and Gene ExpressionFebruary 27, 2018While recent advancements let us map the epigenome of a single-cell, the same studies can leave us a bit single-minded when facing the many layers of the epigenetic landscape. Thankfully, to quench our integrative omics thirst, a clever new technique reveals that just because you’re looking at single cells doesn’t mean you only need to […]
dCas9-Tet1 to the Rescue: Maintained DNA Demethylation of Fragile X Syndrome NeuronsFebruary 26, 2018The call for a rescue operation often makes humanity turn to its latest and greatest tools and equipment. Whether it’s firefighters with water jetpacks or cutting-edge epigenetic editing technology, threats to human kind don’t have it easy these days. In their latest report, the epigenetic emergency response team from the labs of Rudolf Jaenisch and […]
Placeholder Nucleosomes Prevent DNA Methylation to Promote Embryo Progress!February 26, 2018After coming up against an impassable obstacle, researchers often need to hold their place in one research line and open up another to explore new investigational avenues and uncover new and unexpected findings. The study of epigenetics during fertilization and the early development of human embryos remains a challenging task on multiple levels, thus making […]