Epigenetic Editing Targets DNA Demethylation, Induces Gene ExpressionNovember 16, 2013TET family proteins grabbed a bit of fame back in 2009 for their role in the demethylation pathway that generates one of our favorite base modifcations 5hmC. Since then, researchers have sought out ways to harness TET’s tremendous potential as a mechanism for active regulation of DNA methylation…if only Miley had followed in its’ footsteps. […]
Epigenetics & Cancer & Gene Networks …Oh Me(thylation)!November 15, 2013Now that we’ve landed smack dab in the middle of the age of big data, some interesting techniques have emerged to interrogate the mind-boggling amounts of information from our (epi)genome. Dr. Ranjan Perera and team at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Florida) applied some of that new analysis wizardry to learn more about the complexity of […]
Methylcytosine Makes its Mark on RNA MethylationNovember 6, 2013Methylcytosine – It’s not just for DNA anymore. Despite being almost exclusively associated with DNA for decades, methylcytosine (5mC) has recently been shown to be an important base modification in RNA as well. Exploding interest in the RNA version of 5mC, what it does, and how it works, has been sparked by a sharp uptick […]
DNA Methylation Age Prediction Confirms that EpiGenie Staff are Past their PrimeNovember 5, 2013Getting old stinks; literally actually, at least in the EpiGenie office, where the pungent aroma of sports creme lingers the day after softball night. Dr. Steve Horvath (UCLA) published a doozy of a paper, DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types, in Genome Biology recently that caught mainstream media attention from hacks like us to […]
DNA Methylation in Gene Activation with Dr. Robert WaterlandNovember 5, 2013Dr. Robert Waterland discusses how 3′ CpG island methylation may function as a key developmental activator of gene expression. This interview was shot at the Keystone Symposia’s meeting on Nutrition, Epigenetics and Human Disease, 2013 held in Santa Fe, New Mexico 3′ CpG Island Methylation in Gene Activation Another really interesting project thatI’ve been involved with […]