Decrypting Transcription with Dr. Frank GrosveldJanuary 7, 2014Dr. Frank Grosveld points out how little we actually know about the details of transcription and the molecular machinery involved. Transcription Factories We have this loop structure of the genome. And at the same time, we know that every gene that’s being transcribed, that’s active, is part of what we call transcription factories. So […]
Decitabine Scores a Cancer Therapy ‘Hat Trick’January 7, 2014The cancer treatment field scored a nice win to kick off 2014. Past studies have hinted that epigenome modifying drugs show great potential in the clinic, but new findings from Kunle Odunsi and team at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York has demonstrated that a combinatorial approach using Decitabine (a DNA ‘demethylater’) and […]
Epigenetic Technology: 2013 Editor’s FavoritesDecember 18, 2013In 2013, technology impacted nearly every facet of our lives: from improving Instagram selfies, to squeezing even more knowledge from epigenetics research. Check out some of our favorite Technology features from the past year: Genome Editing We love the potential of Genome Editing. Led by methods like CRISPR-Cas, this emerging field has really boomed this […]
Epigenetics 101: You Can’t Always Blame Your Parents with Alberto PerezDecember 17, 2013EpiGenie reader Dr. Albert Perez lays out some of the basic concepts behind epigenetics, and explains how being a red-head in Spain started him on a path to explore DNA and the epigenome.
DNA Methylation and Diet: You Are Also What Your Father AteDecember 17, 2013Freud famously blamed mothers for nearly everything, and when early epigenetic studies indicated that you are what your mom (and grandma and great-grandma) ate, it seemed to back him up. But when it comes to complex traits and environment, a new report from scientists at McGill University (Montreal) found that a father’s diet shapes a child too. […]
Webinar: Covering all the Bases with Genome-Wide 5-mC and 5-hmC SequencingDecember 17, 2013Covering all the Bases with Genome-Wide 5-mC and 5-hmC Sequencing By Dr Keith Booher, PhD. Manager of Epigenetic Services at Zymo Research Abstract: There is an ever-increasing appreciation for the remarkable ability of epigenetic modifications, such as the methylation of cytosines in DNA (5-mC), to respond to environmental cues and influence gene expression in biological […]
Tet1 Demethylation Wipes the Genomic Imprinting Slate CleanDecember 12, 2013The mechanisms surrounding genomic imprinting has always been a bit of black-box, especially when it comes to the erasure of paternal methylation patterns. A recent study led by Yi Zhang at the Boston Children’s Hospital has made a breakthrough in our understanding of imprinting, showing that Tet1 is a major part of the clean-up crew […]
Zymo Research and Active Motif Get Props from JournalistasDecember 11, 2013Our sources report that some good friends, and fellow epigenetics advocates have been getting kudos from the scientific press. Both Zymo Research and Active Motif each garnered some well-deserved recognition recently for their contributions to the field of epigenetics research, and we thought it was only right to join in on the praise. Zymo Research […]
Spotlight on Emerging RNA Methylation Analysis TechniquesDecember 9, 2013Taking cues from ultra-talented entertainers like Justin Timberlake, methylation is out to prove it’s possible to be successful in more than just one medium. Recent research has found that methylation can pull off its’ gene expression regulatory magic at the level of RNA too. And no, we’re not talking about other RNA modifications, like 6-methyladenosine […]
Chemical Creation of Epigenetic Marks: One Step Closer to Synthetic LifeDecember 2, 2013What if Craig Ventor got a hold of the epigenome during his quest to create synthetic life? Is humanity be ready for an artificial life-form potentially as complex as its creators? Will Duck Dynasty and Honey Boo Boo be picked up for another season? These are all very important questions. And a few of our […]
