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“There is another” – N6-mA Described as a New Form of DNA Methylation

April 9, 2016

In one of modern cinema’s greatest movies, Jedi Master Yoda proclaims “No…there is another…”. He was talking about the presumed existence of only one Jedi, much as many mammalian biologists speak about 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) as being the only type of DNA methylation. In a ground breaking new study, Andrew Z. Xiao (Yale School of Medicine, […]

Redefining Cancer and Stem Cell Reprogramming: Epigenetic Modulators, Modifiers, and Mediators

April 9, 2016

Back in 2006, Andrew Feinberg & Co. brought forth a review that pioneered the concept of tumor progenitor genes, which are genes involved in stem cell reprogramming and cancer. These tumor progenitor genes are epigenetically deregulated at the earliest stage of cancer. The epigenetic variation occurs before mutations, can be seen in normal tissue surrounding […]

Single-Molecule Imaging of 5hmC and 5mC Grabs the Bigger Picture with Less DNA

April 6, 2016

We all know the old saying “Good things come in pairs”, and when you’re only examining one member of a dynamic duo, sometimes you can miss the key contribution of the trusty sidekick. Attesting to the above, a talented team from Stanford show off a clever new technique to simultaneously image 5mC and 5hmC on […]

Prenatal Exposure to Smoking is Associated with a Long-Term Mark on CpG Methylation

April 6, 2016

Pregnancy is a sensitive period for a developing embryo/fetus where cues from the environment are incorporated into the epigenome where they can have long-term implications. While certain prenatal exposures, like alcohol and smoking, are well known to produce a number of negative health outcomes, they remain the largest cause of preventable birth defects and are […]

Zika Virus Infection of Neural Progenitors Linked to Brain Abnormalities

April 1, 2016

The sight of newborn infants with radically reduced brain sizes (microcephaly) has seized attention worldwide and thrust the Zika virus into the limelight as the probable culprit. Zika spreads through mosquito bites and belongs to the Flaviviridae virus family, but how does Zika infection cause such devastating abnormalities in developing infants? A multidisciplinary team led […]

Human Haploid ESCs – Half the DNA but Double the Potential?

April 1, 2016

Eyes, feet, hands, and chromosomes – two of each seems to be the done thing. Indeed, two sets of each chromosome (diploidy) is a general feature in mammals, except when we produce eggs and sperm (meiosis) which contain only one set of chromosomes (haploidy). However, various studies have described the production of embryonic stem cells […]

Location, Location, Location! Better Fluorescent Labeling For Protein And RNA Localization

April 1, 2016

Location is important. But while we have great GPS tools to locate ourselves in the macro-world, microscopic things can be a bit harder to find. You might think it would be tough to lose something in as tiny a space as the inside of a cell, but that’s what I thought about my keys in […]

eBook: ChIP Reloaded | Recent Advances & Technical Guidance

March 25, 2016

In this eBook, we’ve summarized several recent technical advances in ChIP that simplify the process and improve performance. Then we tossed in invaluable technical guidance from ChIP experts tackling every thing from working with challenging samples to data normalization. To top it all off, we’ve highlighted some new web applications that aim to streamline ChIP data analysis […]

CRISPR Trifecta Pays Off Big

March 21, 2016

If basic research drives innovation, the CRISPR-Cas system is one trophy-laden driver. Not long after its unexpected discovery as an obscure prokaryotic defense system against viruses, it has become the hottest thing since recombinant DNA. However, CRISPR’s intricate details still remain somewhat mysterious. Not to fear: basic research into CRISPR rolls on, with new, intriguing, […]

eBook: DNA Demethylation in Development

March 19, 2016

This ebook provides an introduction to the key cytosine base modifications: 5-methylcytosine, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) that have been at the center of intense study in recent years. Inside, we’ve compiled numerous highlights that provide background on how these modifications function in DNA demethylation and also highlight the growing data that captures the role of demethylation […]