Genomic imprinting, or examining instances where paternal and maternal genomes aren’t represented equally, has kept many brilliant minds busy for decades. It has also established the foundations for emerging field of epigenetics. In the 2012 update of Genomic Imprinting: Methods and Protocols, edited by Nora Engel, experts in the field cover the most up to date technologies used in study of imprinting today in chapters that deliver detailed lab protocols, and provide tips, tricks and troubleshooting advice from pros in each technique. There are 19 chapters in all, but here are quick summaries from some of our favorites:
Data Mining as a Discovery Tool for Imprinted Genes
Chelsea Brideau and Paul Soloway
This chapter gives readers an introduction in the use of genome-wide and epigenomic data to create models that can predict imprinted regions. Basic examples are shown of programs that can be built to analyze genomic regions, and/or epigenetic features to look for sites of genomic imprinting.
Quantitative Chromosome Conformation Capture
Raffaella Nativio, Yoko Ito, and Adele Murrell
Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) was designed to analyze chromatin interactions that occur between regions that become closely associated due to chromatin conformation, rather than just genomic distance. This section, instructs readers on how to properly set up and conduct 3C experiments in order to analyze otherwise difficult to study associations such as those between promoters and distant enhancers.
Co-Immunoprecipitation of Long Noncoding RNAs
Victoria A. Moran, Courtney N. Niland, and Ahmad M. Khalil
Interest in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is booming due to their involvement in a wide range of biological processes and diseases. This chapter discusses the RNA immunoprecipitation – sequencing (RIP-Seq) method and how it is used to determine the protein or protein complex partners of various lncRNAs.
The EpiGenie Verdict
Genomic Imprinting: Methods and Protocols is a great collection of step-by-step guides to cutting-edge techniques that today’s bench scientist will find invaluable in their labs. Armed with these techniques, researchers should have no problems tackling many of the unanswered questions facing those in the imprinting and epigenetics field.
You can purchase a hardcover or e-copy of Genomic Imprinting: Methods and Protocols at the Humana Press website.