Multimodal Nanopore Profiling of Circulating Tumor DNAAugust 1, 2022The Oxford Nanopore (ONT) sequencing platform may have more modalities than a Swiss army knife. In a multimodal masterpiece of a new study, researchers now demonstrate how DNA methylation, copy number alterations, nucleosome footprinting, and fragmentation profiles derived from liquid biopsies of cancer patients can deconvolute cellular composition and identify cancer-specific methylation changes from circulating […]
eBook: Epigenetics of CannabisJuly 21, 2022Changes in epigenetic regulation are hallmarks of the transition from normal to diseased cells. Exploration of the role of epigenetics in those who may use Cannabis, or related products such as THC or CBD, has proven to be informative for better understanding of their potential effects. In this EpiGenie ebook, we present summaries of several […]
Wake Up and Don’t Smell the Coffee! – How SARS-CoV-2-Induced DNA Methylation Impacts Your Sense of SmellJuly 18, 2022While many researchers have woken up, smelled the coffee, and realized the importance of epigenetic alterations in response to SARS-CoV-2 infections, many patients recovering from COVID-19 have been left unable to enjoy the olfactory joy of their first cup of java as each new day dawns. Now, well-caffeinated researchers led by Maria Lerm at Linköping […]
Anchor-based Bisulfite Sequencing Sets Sail to Explore the DNA Methylome!July 10, 2022The anchor is a crucial part of any seaworthy ship of exploration, and after setting sail from your local CpG island, you’ll be glad you stowed anchor-based bisulfite sequencing (or ABBS) to keep your DNA methylation voyages firmly anchored to new and exciting regions of the methylome. Anchor-based bisulfite sequencing, which comes to you from […]
Now In Print! – New Technologies Leave their Mark on Imprinting Control RegionsJune 19, 2022Genomic imprinting typically lets our parents leave their mark on our genomes; however, new technological advances are now allowing us to leave our mark on imprinting! The first of our epigenetic exposés that went into print reports on how multiple modalities uncovered complex epigenetic crosstalk that regulates allele-specific gene expression at potential imprinting control regions […]
eBook: Epigenomics of SpermJune 9, 2022Some of the most interesting and important epigenetic phenomena occur in sperm. In addition to passing genetic paternal information, experiences and exposures can be encoded in the epigenome and inherited as well. In this EpiGenie ebook, we present summaries of several studies on exploring the role of epigenetic processes in sperm biology. They are divided […]
The Long and the Short of It – Long DNMT3A1 Isoform Binds Bivalent Neurodevelopmental ChromatinMay 23, 2022Sometimes it’s best to get straight to the point, so let’s dive into this study of DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3A) isoforms with variable lengths, which reveals a chromatin interaction domain that regulates bivalent gene expression and supports early postnatal survival in mice! Previous studies that didn’t beat around the bush described how postnatal development requires […]
Battling Against the Clock: Epigenetic Age Acceleration Impacts COVID-19 SeverityMay 2, 2022Timing is crucial for many aspects of life, and now, a rather timely study demonstrates that the acceleration of our epigenetic clocks after SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly impacts our risk of suffering severe COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndrome (“long COVID”). Previous research has described how older patients suffer from a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 (independent […]
Single-cell Based DNA Methylation Deconvolution Method Scores Another Goal for EpigeneticsApril 25, 2022You might think you know the leading players in the field of computational epigenetics; however, each new season brings forward a squad of exciting new players eager to prove their worth. Recently, one of these players EpiSCORE-d the goal of extending in silico cell-type deconvolution of human epigenomic data to many tissues. While reference-based cell-type […]
Has Cannabis Gone Up in Smoke? – Study Links Use to Accelerated Epigenetic AgingMarch 31, 2022Like there is no smoke without fire, another study has linked cannabis use to unwanted epigenetic alterations. We’ve seen that cannabis exposure alters DNA methylation in prenatal mouse brains (influencing subsequent behavior), the sperm of rats and humans (priming an autism spectrum disorder-like profile), and human adult brains (impacting brain function), and now epigenetic aging […]
