Studying TAD Boundary Issues Through Epigenome Editing of CTCF MotifsOctober 19, 2019So, your therapist says you have boundary issues? Well you’re not alone; CTCF is known to play a critical role in setting the boundaries of topologically associating domains (TADs), but there’s been no therapist to uncover their definitive impact. Thankfully, new research from the lab of Bradley Bernstein at the Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA) […]
A Perfect Harmony: Orchestrating Joint Chromatin Conformation and Methylome Mapping in Single CellsOctober 7, 2019If a better understanding of gene regulation is music to your ears, then tune in for the latest developments in single-cell epigenomics. It is well established that both DNA methylation and higher-order chromatin structure play crucial roles in development, differentiation and disease, and there are readily available technologies for both (whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and chromatin […]
Webinar: The Epigenetics of the Exposome and Aging – Paul G. ShielsOctober 2, 2019Don’t miss this great webinar detailing some of the latest discoveries about the role of epigenetics in aging. Aging results in a gradual and progressive loss of physiological functions and physical abilities over time. Overcoming the growing burden of age-related issues is one of the greatest challenges facing modern society. These issues are leading to […]
DNA Methylation Analysis Puts a Face to a Very Ancient NameOctober 1, 2019A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away (2014 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel actually!) a team of researchers banded together under the leadership of Liran Carmel and David Gokhman. Rather than inventing the wheel or devising a strategy to capture wooly mammoth, the team developed a way to reconstruct […]
This Is the Methylome that Alzheimer’s BuiltSeptember 9, 2019“This is the House that Jack Built” is a popular and beloved children’s rhyme. But if children’s rhymes were written by scientists instead, it might look something like this: There’s an oxidation reaction on a methyl group, on a carbon in a cytosine, in a region of a gene, in the genome of a neuron, […]
Methylation Prevents Young Transposable Elements From LINE-1 Dancing Through the Neural GenomeAugust 13, 2019Whether you’re a fan of nightclubs, speakeasys, or honkey-tonks, you may have noticed that the population on the dance floor seems to get younger every year. Maybe you’re just getting older, or maybe today’s youth are getting better at getting around the rules. Like bouncers at a bar, developing cells have DNA methylation to keep […]
“CoRSIV” Writing: Jotting Down Interindividual Variation in DNA MethylationAugust 6, 2019From playwrights to poets, many writers take advantage of word processing software to keep their writing under control. However, variety is the spice to life, and others swear that putting quill to parchment and writing out their epic tales in good old flowing cursive helps to get the creative juices flowing. As a testament to […]
SMARCA2 Variants Leave a Domain-Specific DNA Methylation Signature in Neurodevelopmental DisordersJuly 16, 2019Our signatures are unique marks that let people know where we’ve been. It turns out that epigenetic modifiers leave their own signatures on the genome. There are between 300-400 proteins that regulate the epigenome, including readers, writers, & erasers of histone marks as well as chromatin remodelers. Genetic variants in the epigenes that encode these […]
Evasive Maneuvers! LINE-1 at the Helm Outwits Epigenetic RepressionJuly 16, 2019While the above title may conjure up images of Star Wars-esque galactic battles, the epic clash between the LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon and repressive forces takes place on the scale of microns instead. This war has been waging in the human genome for thousands of years: L1 attempts to replicate and integrate into the genome, while […]
Shifting Sex: Social Stress Throws Epigenetics in Reverse for Female Bluehead WrassesJuly 15, 2019Have you ever run into an unexpected detour on your commute? Whether it be an ice patch, flood, or even a mudslide, mother nature can reroute even the best laid plans, but for some species, changes in the environment have much higher stakes than being late for work or that much needed vacation. In fact, […]
