Different Strokes For DNA Methylation Patterns in Stem Cell LinesJuly 15, 2011Although we often think of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines as being pretty much the same (kind of like the Kardashian sisters), they really are different according to a report by UCLA researchers. Even though they usually can differentiate into the same cell types, hESCs have different methylation patterns—and that may affect gene expression. […]
IsomiRs, 3′ variants May Shine Light on miRNA FunctionJuly 15, 2011As next-generation sequencing continues to explode in popularity, researchers are finding out that nucleic acids are a lot more complex than they ever imagined. One miRNA gene = one miRNA? Nah, that would be too simple. Instead, just like their protein-coding counterparts, miRNA genes can give rise to multiple variants, or isomiRs. Now researchers in […]
Genome-Wide and High-Resolution Methylation Profiling Together at LastJuly 15, 2011What do you get when you pair up bisulfite conversion with custom SureSelect™ DNA Capture Arrays? Answers of course, in the form of site-specific methylation data for tens of thousands of CpG sites. For years, adjectives like “high-resolution” and “genome-wide” have been on the wish list of epigenetics researchers keen on tackling the complexities of DNA […]
Automated Epigenetics: Diagenode’s SX-8G IP-Star Compact SystemJuly 6, 2011After slaving away all day at the bench just to run a handful of epigenetic assays, you’ve probably wished that there were some sort of robot around that could do most of the work for you. Now, Diagenode’s SX-8G IP-Star Compact Automation System turns that fantasy into a reality. The IP-Star Compact instrument harnesses the […]
Cancer Cells Keep Their Methylome Options OpenJuly 6, 2011As new research finds tumor cells don’t like to be tied to just one methylation pattern, they prefer a variety. In fact, that variation within tumors gives cells a big leg-up in challenging environments, and possibly even helps them avoid detection and treatment. Building on their earlier work on CpG shores and stochastic variation, the […]