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 […]
Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNAs, One of Life’s Bare EssentialsDecember 4, 2013If you were forced to choose a few bare essentials for a lengthy stay on a deserted island, most of us would choose items like some great tunes, a favorite book, or a loved one, but some new research points out that lincRNAs ought to be considered too, since a clever crew at Harvard has recently […]
lncRNA Gets Classy: Chromatin Signatures Distinguish SpeciesDecember 4, 2013Everyone wants to be judged based on their own merits, and not just what group they happen to be a part of. With the help of a talented crew from the University of Oxford, lncRNAs have just been given a wonderful holiday gift to help them break free of their one-size-fits-all stereotype; two distinct classes […]
Modifying Our View of Histones with Dr. Jerry WorkmanDecember 3, 2013Dr. Jerry Workman discusses the questions surrounding the preservation of histone marks, and the balance between histone turnover and transgenerational inheritance. The Dynamic Histone Code I think one of the most exciting things for me that’s being approached in the field more recently is how are histone marks preserved? We talk about these things carrying […]
The Loose Ends in the Chromatin-Transcription Relationship with Dr. Steven HenikoffDecember 3, 2013Dr. Henikoff discusses some of the gaps in our understanding of transcription and chromatin that still need to be filled in. The Unknowns of RNA Polymerase-Nucleosome Interactions Well, you would think with so much work done on the relationship between transcription and chromatin, the fact that there’s so many meetings on it and all. We […]
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 […]
Transgenerational Epigenetics is Bringing Sexy BackNovember 26, 2013For mice, domestication is a ten generation process, and while we’re left wondering at what stage Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is caught up in, we’ll try to steer clear of any low brow jokes. During the process of domestication many adaptations occur, but not all are beneficial. In fact, as a thought provoking group from […]
Genome Synthesis vs. DNA Methylation: A Battle for One-Carbon with Dr. Patrick StoverNovember 19, 2013Dr. Patrick Stover discusses the competition between genome synthesis and DNA methylation for the use of available folate and one-carbons. The Balancing Act of Folate Metabolism So one of the primary focus of our laboratory is trying to link how changes in metabolism affect specific disease outcomes. And we’re most interested in neural tube defects […]
Is DNA Methylation Key to Antipsychotic Treatments?November 18, 2013Evidence continues to stack up about the environmentally responsive ways of our epigenome, but most of the time when we hear about it, it’s usually about some bad news. However, Dr. Shiva Singh and his colleagues at Western University (Canada) have come across an interesting case where epigenetics mechanisms appear to cause the therapeutic effects of […]