DNA Methylation News and Research

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DNA methylation is a type of chemical modification of DNA that can be inherited and subsequently removed without changing the original DNA sequence. As such, it is part of the epigenetic code and is also the most well characterized epigenetic mechanism.

Researchers study role of small non-coding RNAs expressed in the human male germline

Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain, have studied the role of a peculiar class of small non-coding RNAs that are mainly expressed in the human male germline.

22 Nov 2013

Buck Institute research provides method to study sarcopenia

Our epigenome is a set of chemical switches that turn parts of our genome off and on at strategic times and locations. These switches help alter the way our cells act and are impacted by environmental factors including diet, exercise and stress. Research at the Buck Institute reveals that aging also effects the epigenome in human skeletal muscle. The study, appearing on line in Aging Cell, provides a method to study sarcopenia, the degenerative loss of muscle mass that begins in middle age.

21 Nov 2013

Findings show how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected

Researchers from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have found that epigenetic changes to DNA are associated with aging in disease-free breast tissues and are further altered in breast tumors. Epigenetic changes describe heritable alterations caused by mechanisms other than by changes in DNA sequence. The discovery, published in the February 2014 issue of Epigenetics, illustrates how cancer and aging are tightly interconnected processes by identifying epigenetic alterations present in the normal aging breast that may increase disease risk in cancer-free individuals.

21 Nov 2013

Novel discovery of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on defence mechanism against lung cancer

Novel discovery relating to the function of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on human defence mechanism against early stages of lung cancer development

13 Nov 2013

Study suggests that therapies targeting KDM2A may benefit subset of NSCLS patients

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Current therapies that target cellular kinases have been effective for some patients: however, many individuals with NSCLS do not respond.

11 Nov 2013

A*STAR scientists discover potential target to weed out progression of cancer

Scientists at A*STAR have discovered an enzyme, Wip1 phosphatase, as a potential target to weed out the progression of cancer. Although studies in the past have revealed that this enzyme plays a critical role in regulating the budding of tumours, scientists have for the first time unearthed a mechanism for its mode of action.

10 Nov 2013

DNA methylation signature marks recurrence in early stage lung cancer

An international research team has identified a DNA methylation signature that identifies patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer who are at high risk for relapse.

31 Oct 2013

Hopes Raised For Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection

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25 Oct 2013

UCLA study uncovers biological clock that may shed light on why our bodies age

Everyone grows older, but scientists don't really understand why. Now a UCLA study has uncovered a biological clock embedded in our genomes that may shed light on why our bodies age and how we can slow the process.

21 Oct 2013

New research identifies internal timepiece that accurately gauge age of human organs and tissues

21 Oct 2013

HSCI researchers discover on-off switch for gene expression

Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers have settled a century-old debate over whether occurrence of DNA methylation acts to silence gene expression, or if genes are turned off by other means before they are methylated.

11 Oct 2013

Research delves deeply into genomics of glioblastoma multiforme cases to better target disease

When The Cancer Genome Atlas launched its massively collaborative approach to organ-by-organ genomic analysis of cancers, the brain had both the benefit, and the challenge, of going first.

11 Oct 2013

Epigenetic regulation linked with pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

New evidence presented at the 26th ECNP Congress linking epigenetic regulation with Alzheimer's disease may one day lead to new early diagnostic tests and even novel treatment options for the most common form of dementia.

7 Oct 2013

Findings may result in better management of chronic depression

Virginia Commonwealth University has received a $3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study key molecular markers found in DNA that predict chronic depression.

2 Oct 2013

Epigenetic Markers Found For Head And Neck Cancers

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2 Oct 2013

Unique DNA markings on certain genes may 'predict' risk of developing head and neck cancer

Unique DNA markings on certain genes may "predict" the risk of developing head and neck cancer, according to new research led by Queen Mary University of London.

1 Oct 2013

Use of SHOX2 DNA measurement improves cancer staging tools

Findings indicate that assessment of SHOX2 DNA methylation level in lymph node tissue improves the negative predictive value of endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration, as well as endoscopic lung cancer staging in general.

30 Sep 2013

Sister stem cells display considerable differences despite having identical DNA

Scientists have used a brand new technique for examining individual stem cells to uncover dramatic differences in the gene expression levels - which genes are turned 'up' or 'down'- between apparently identical 'sister' pairs.

27 Sep 2013

VolitionRx enters into distribution agreement with Active Motif for NuQ product line

VolitionRx Limited, a life sciences company focused on developing blood-based diagnostic tests for different types of cancer, today entered into an agreement with Active Motif, a leading provider of kits and reagents to enable epigenetics research.

26 Sep 2013

Epigenetic changes appear to be candidates as early stage biomarkers for Parkinson

Parkinson disease, a neurodegenerative disorder in which both genetic and environmental factors play important roles, has been associated with epigenetic changes (those molecular modifications that alter the behavior of genes without changing the DNA sequence).