epigenetics

Epigenetics and ncRNA Headlines

Get all the latest highlights from the literature and special features covering trending epigenetics, ncRNA, and gene regulation research.

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Breaking Barriers: Cloning Made Easier by Erasing Epigenetic Marks

November 5, 2014

If Star Wars is anything to go by, cloning techniques of the future will be able to create a whole army of clones in the blink of an eye. Yet, back on planet Earth, the cloning of today is still relatively inefficient. A new study published in Cell identifies an important epigenetic road block in […]

in vivo CRISPR Takes Aim at Key DNA Methylation Players in the Brain

October 31, 2014

Adding to the ever growing potential of genome editing, one of the latest breakthroughs from the lab of Feng Zhang at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard puts CRISPR/Cas9 to the test with an interesting research trifecta of: in vivo genome editing focused on the brain genome editing that targeted DNA methylation machinery including key readers and writers. both […]

Histone Modification Reading Domains Crack Complex Combos

October 30, 2014

Having alternatives is always great, particularly when it comes to studying histone modifications. By using some recombinant proteins of histone reading domains, researchers from the lab of Albert Jeltsch at Stuttgart University (Germany) recently demonstrated that these domains might just one-up antibodies when it comes to deciphering the combos of the histone code. Lead author Goran Kungulovski shares that “Histone […]

Developmental Origin of Schizophrenia-Associated DNA Methylation

October 30, 2014

Schizophrenia is one complex disease, with a number of subtypes and an origin unknown. However, despite it’s complexity, recent evidence points toward an interaction between genes and environment that are mediated by the epigenome. Further adding to the complexity is the fact that most patients are treated with powerful antipsychotics that also remodel the epigenome in […]

Pluripotency Genes are Loopy about their Neighborhood

October 25, 2014

Most of us understand the importance of a good neighborhood; we look for somewhere to reflect our identity and to bring us together with similar minded people. Interestingly, recent work from the labs of Keji Zhao and Richard A. Young suggests that certain genes in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) act in a similar manner. The inquisitive crew of […]

Natural Disasters Impact DNA Methylation

October 16, 2014

As Polar Vortex II approaches, you’ll be interested in a recent study highlighting the impact of environment stressors on the epigenome. Prenatal maternal stress exposure is known to adversely affect offspring in a number of ways, depending on the nature of the exposure, but is typically studied in common exposures like diet, alcohol, and lead. But this has left the […]

Epigram: Predicting the Human Epigenome from DNA Motifs

October 16, 2014

There’s no denying the power of technology in our lives, whether it be your latest and greatest iPhone bending in your pocket or it be getting the technology to do something more useful, like predict the entire epigenome and how it functions in the regulation of gene expression. We’ve always loved a good tool and/or […]

Are LncRNAs the Future of Non-Invasive Prostate Cancer Testing?

October 9, 2014

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of mortality in North-American men and as a result many are forced to the clinic for some rather invasive biopsies, but thanks to some cool epigenetics involving lncRNAs, those once dreaded trips to the doctor’s office may soon be replaced a much less invasive urine test. Ranjan Perera and crew […]

Maternal Care Causes Variation in Behavior and Gene Regulation in Females

October 1, 2014

Life experiences shape us in ways that are hard to imagine, whether it’s a catch-phrase from a favorite TV show slipping into our vocabulary ,or how much your mother licked you while you were child (We know that sounds weird for humans, but licking just happens to be a measure of maternal care in rodents). […]

Inheritance of Histone Mod Caught at Cell division

September 29, 2014

Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance is one of our favorite topics, it’s done a great job of showing old school Mendelian inheritance who’s boss by creating the molecular complexity of complex traits. With phenotypes and exposures aplenty, the one thing that has been missing is catching the inheritance of an acquired epigenetic mark in the act. And that’s just what a […]