Measuring Nucleosome Dynamics with CATCH-ITMay 25, 2009When he’s not running his lab up at the Hutch or co-editing epigenetics’ only open source journal, Epigenetics and Chromatin, Dr. Steve Henikoff tinkers a bit (ok…that might be a bit of an understatement). Credited with inventing a range of useful research methods that have streamlined processes from sequencing to computational prediction tools, the Chicago […]
miRNA Discovery: Algorithms, Sequencing and Life Outside miRBaseMay 12, 2009Back in the early days, they were these interesting “genes” with names like “lin” and “let” that appeared highly involved in developmental timing, so much so that they were called small temporal RNAs (stRNAs). A lot more has changed in the field of miRNA discovery than naming mechanisms since those early days when the first […]
miRNAs Get Well Deserved PromotionApril 30, 2009Since we launched EpiGenie, we’ve always considered ourselves big promoters of miRNA. Sure, we cover the big headers in chromatin and DNA methylation too, but it’s hard not to identify with these small, overlooked contributors… (OK enough with our high school sports sob stories). Once again we’ve been humbled by Mother Nature as a novel […]
Mining the TranscriptomeApril 17, 2009As the herculean genome sequencing efforts closed in on a draft of the human genome sequence back in 2000, the estimated numbers of “genes” that comprised our genome dropped quicker than the market cap of the biotech heavy Nasdaq after Clinton/Blair announced the sequences of these little gems would reside in the public domain. Shortly […]
The Search for Histone Classifiers in ESC and NSC ScreeningApril 10, 2009Stem cell researchers have been pretty amped since last month’s presidential decision to bulldoze funding restrictions on human embryonic stem cells. We know the Scripps Institute’s Center for Regenerative Medicine even threw a “Stem Cell Freedom Party” to celebrate. We weren’t able to attend unfortunately, but we’re sure there was some crazy behavior. After all, […]
New Analysis Combos Reveal More Gene Body DNA MethylationApril 10, 2009Hey, sometimes more really is, well, more. Lately in the sequencing arena, we’ve heard a lot about some really slick advances in targeted sample enrichment and other ways to sequence less real estate in exchange for more coverage and better data. Such enrichment methods should be equally useful to epigenetics as they are in current […]
DNA Methylation, the NIH Epigenomics Program, and What’s Next in EpigeneticsApril 1, 2009Joseph Francis Costello received his Ph.D. at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois where he and his mentor, Dr. Russell Pieper discovered aberrant DNA methylation of the MGMT promoter in glioblastomas, which has since become the most widely used molecular marker to predict patient response to chemotherapy. In 1995, he became a postdoctoral fellow at the […]
The PSA Debate and DNA Methylation BiomarkersMarch 25, 2009For many men, nothing can kick off a mid-life crisis quicker than a prostate exam. Middle-aged guys in sports cars everywhere dread reminders from their urologist for prostate checkups. Don’t even get us started on PSA’s infamous counterpart, the digital rectal exam. The prostate surface antigen (PSA) test was launched back in 1985 by Hybritech, […]
Nanopore Sequencing the 5th BaseMarch 2, 2009For the pipette-jockeys out there who have been toiling away with tedious bisulfite sequencing runs, MS-PCR, or Me-DIP protocols: Hang in there! It looks like help might soon be on the way. A group of Oxford researchers just published a method that uses nanopore technology to sequence single molecules of DNA, including 5-methylcytosine, all without […]
Integrated Epigenetic Profiling in Primary Human CellsFebruary 25, 2009The Costello Lab at UCSF is another of the four Reference Epigenome Mapping Centers (REMCs, not to be confused with REM although I’m sure Michael Stipe would be very proud of the work going on at the REMCs). According to Dr. Joseph Costello, his lab will be rolling up their sleeves with scientists at UC […]