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.

New study shows that epigenetic silencing of genes limits eye development of cave fish

Loss of eye tissue in blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus), which occurs within a few days of their development, happens through epigenetic silencing of eye-related genes, according to a study led by the National Institutes of Health. Epigenetic regulation is a process where genes are turned off or on, typically in a reversible or temporary manner.

29 May 2018

Researchers call for new genetic tests for congenital diseases

Researchers have discovered that genetic mutations called epivariations are the cause of certain neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital diseases.

25 May 2018

Researchers identify novel epigenetic mutations as cause of neurodevelopmental, congenital disorders

Researchers have identified a type of genetic aberration to be the cause of certain neurodevelopmental disorders and congenital diseases, such as autism and congenital heart disease, which are undetectable by conventional genetic testing.

25 May 2018

HU researchers explore how simulated microgravity affects gene expression, muscle cell differentiation

Astronauts go through many physiological changes during their time in spaceflight, including lower muscle mass and slower muscle development. Similar symptoms can occur in the muscles of people on Earth's surface, too. In fact, it could affect everyone to some extent later in life.

23 May 2018

Researchers discover medulloblastoma subtype that responds to less aggressive therapy

The youngest patients with the brain tumor medulloblastoma are among the most challenging because their rapidly developing brains limit treatment options.

17 May 2018

New findings point to potential therapeutic avenues for leukemia

Scientists have known for decades that the Hox family of transcription factors are key regulators in the formation of blood cells and the development of leukemia.

9 May 2018

Scientists discover a small family of proteins that control inclusion of DNA methylation marks in genome

Not all of your genome needs to be active at any given time. Some regions are prone to hopping around the genome in problematic ways if left unchecked; others code for genes that need to be turned off in certain cells or at certain times.

8 May 2018

EPO's neuroprotective effect in preemies may be mediated by epigenetic regulation of genes

Erythropoietin helps to protect and repair vulnerable brains though it remains a mystery how the anemia drug does so.

7 May 2018

Plants provide a new avenue in curbing tumor growth

Plants have provided a new avenue in curbing tumor growth. On this occasion, it doesn't involve miracle species or the like, but rather the results obtained by the University of Cordoba BIO301 research team called "Epigenetics and DNA Repair."

27 Apr 2018

Drawbacks and benefits of using saliva for epigenetic studies

Biomarkers in saliva identify changes that impact the body, according to research published in Current Genomics. This important paper details the drawbacks and benefits of using saliva as a tissue sample for the study of epigenetic changes affected by experiences.

20 Apr 2018

LSD1 enzyme regulates skeletal muscle differentiation and metabolic activity

Our bodies convert food into energy for all life activities. These metabolic processes allow the cells that make up our bodies to produce (anabolism) and consume (catabolism) energy molecules from nutrients.

12 Apr 2018

Researcher explores how children develop immunity to malaria as they grow older

Across the world, over 200 million cases of malaria and nearly 500,000 deaths from the disease occur annually--more than 90 percent of which happen in Africa. Children in Africa can be diagnosed with malaria two or three times a year, a rate that decreases as they become older and develop immunity. But the way children generate and maintain this immunity remains a mystery.

11 Apr 2018

Biomarker panel can guide future therapeutic decisions for glioma patients

In an article published April 10th in the journal Cell Reports, researchers at the University of São Paulo describe a biomarker panel that could tell physicians which patients diagnosed with glioma, a type of brain cancer, will tend to progress to a more aggressive form of the disease in the event of relapse.

10 Apr 2018

Newly discovered predictive biomarkers could help assess level of glioma recurrence risk

Researchers have identified specific predictive biomarkers that could help assess the level of risk for recurrence in patients with malignant glioma. The study, led by Henry Ford Health System's Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Public Health Sciences, was published today in Cell Reports.

10 Apr 2018

Scientists develop indices that provide information about prognosis of cancers

Researchers from the School of Medicine in Ribeirão Preto, at the University of São Paulo, in collaboration with international groups, have developed indices that provide information about the prognosis of cancers, aid in the choice of the most appropriate therapy to be used and identify potential targets for the development of new drugs.

6 Apr 2018

Research provides new insights about gender differences in airway disease risk

Human airways already demonstrate gender-based differences in DNA methylation signatures at birth, providing an early hint of which infants may be predisposed to develop respiratory disorders like asthma later in life, a research team reports in a paper published online April 3, 2018, in Scientific Reports.

6 Apr 2018

Researchers untap potential of wearable sensors and AI technologies to predict biological age

Researchers from the longevity biotech company GERO and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology have shown that physical activity data acquired from wearables can be used to produce digital biomarkers of aging and frailty.

30 Mar 2018

Researchers probe RNA epigenetics and chromatin structures to predict drug resistance in leukemia

Drug resistance is a major obstacle to effective treatment for patients with cancer and leukemia. Epigenetic modifying drugs have been proven effective for some patients with hematologic malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

23 Mar 2018

Protein profiling reveals new prostate cancer mechanisms

A study by the University of Tampere in Finland used protein profiling to find new prostate cancer mechanisms that are not shown by aberrations at the genomic level. Several new potential biomarkers of prostate cancer were also found.

21 Mar 2018

Study identifies gene that influences risk of obesity in adulthood

The importance of good nutrition in the early development of children has been recognized for many decades. Nutritional experiences in early life can have profound and long-lasting effects on body weight in later life.

13 Mar 2018