Epigenetics News and Research

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Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations.

World's top genetic scientists to present latest research findings at ICHG/ASHG 2011 Meeting

The world's top scientists and clinicians in the human genetics field will gather to present their latest research findings at the 12th International Congress of Human Genetics (ICHG) / 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), which will be held on October 11-15, 2011, in Montreal (Quebec), Canada, at the Montreal Convention Center.

17 Aug 2011

Young stressed females can impair future offspring, also improve resilience

The study found that stress experienced by young female rats can impair their future offspring, but can also improve resilience. The study also showed that providing the young stressed females with an enriched environment, can indeed ameliorate some of the effects.

17 Aug 2011

Cancer-causing fusion protein works by silencing tumor suppressor gene IL-2Rγ

Mariusz A. Wasik, MD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Qian Zhang, MD, PhD, research assistant professor, both from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and their colleagues, found that a cancer-causing fusion protein works by silencing the tumor suppressor gene IL-2R common gamma-chain.

10 Aug 2011

New study supports DNA-based 'biomarker' blood test for prostate cancer screening

A new study supports the use of a DNA-based "biomarker" blood test as a complement to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test currently offered to screen men for prostate cancer. University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers report their findings online ahead of print in the British Journal of Cancer.

8 Aug 2011

PCF funds 10 new Challenge Awards for prostate cancer research

The Prostate Cancer Foundation today announced that it has funded 10 new Challenge Awards for accelerating scientific discovery and new treatments for prostate cancer patients.

5 Aug 2011

RNAi screen identifies Brd4 as a therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and five other institutions have used an unconventional approach to cancer drug discovery to identify a new potential treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

4 Aug 2011

Fatty acids, nutrients during pregnancy can reduce risk of breast cancer in female offspring

Era of Hope conference to feature compelling research examining benefits to daughters During pregnancy, women are counseled to refrain from consuming certain types of foods, beverages and medications in order to avoid jeopardizing the health and development of the fetus.

4 Aug 2011

Vanderbilt researcher receives Waxman Foundation's award for B-cell lymphoma study

Scott Hiebert, Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation to further his research in abnormal BCL6 overexpression, which occurs in a common B-cell lymphoma.

3 Aug 2011

EGT transfers clinical grade lentiviral vector to MSKCC

Errant Gene Therapeutics, LLC, a pioneering boutique drug development firm specializing in Rare Diseases, announced the transfer of its clinical grade lentiviral vector, TNS 9.55.3, to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

29 Jul 2011

Sigma Life Science releases breast cancer-specific knockout and knockin cell lines for drug research

Sigma Life Science, the innovative biological products and services research business of Sigma-Aldrich, today announced the expansion of its CompoZr® Oncology Disease Model portfolio with the release of the first in its collection of breast cancer-specific knockout and knockin cell lines for drug discovery and research.

22 Jul 2011

First genome-wide mapping of DNA modification in embryonic stem cells

Stem cell researchers at UCLA have generated the first genome-wide mapping of a DNA modification called 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in embryonic stem cells, and discovered that it is predominantly found in genes that are turned on, or active.

22 Jul 2011

Neuroscience 2011 to explore latest advances in brain research

The Society for Neuroscience's Annual Meeting, Neuroscience 2011, Nov. 12-16 at the Washington Convention Center. The event will include more than 16,000 study abstracts on new discoveries in aging, stress, mental illness, learning, disease, and more.

22 Jul 2011

Sigma introduces CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit – mRosa26

Sigma Life Science, the innovative biological products and services research business of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation today announced the launch of CompoZr Targeted Integration Kit – mRosa26, which can precisely and rapidly integrate transgenes into the mouse genome at the Rosa26 safe harbor locus.

19 Jul 2011

New DNA sequencer will provide deeper insight into gene regulation

The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB) of the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin, Germany, will be the first academic research institution in Continental Europe to acquire a novel DNA sequencer enabling the sequencing of single DNA molecules in real time.

16 Jul 2011

Two studies on childhood leukemia

A difficult-to-treat form of childhood leukemia relies on changes in the structure of DNA - so-called epigenetic changes - to wreak genomic havoc within white blood cells, according to one of two studies conducted by a research team at Children's Hospital Boston and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

12 Jul 2011

Cancer Cell publishes Epizyme and collaborators' breakthrough research on MLL

Epizyme, Inc., a company leading the discovery and development of personalized therapeutics for genetically-defined cancer and rare disease patients, and its collaborators announced the publication in Cancer Cell of breakthrough research in the treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemia (MLL), a genetically-defined subset of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.

12 Jul 2011

Frozen embryo transfer may not adversely affect neonatal outcome

In the first study, French scientists looked at neonatal outcome in terms of mode of delivery, gestational age, preterm birth rate (less than 37 weeks of gestation), mean child measurements, low birth weight (less than 2,500g) and perinatal mortality. When comparing the cryo singletons to the fresh cohort, the scientists showed that mean birth weight, mean height and head circumference were lower in the fresh population.

6 Jul 2011

Healthy diet might help reduce risk of macular degeneration

Eating a diet high in vitamin D, as well as the nutrients betaine and methionine, might help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, according to new research conducted by Tufts Medical Center scientists. Their study of identical twins from the US World War II Twin Registry also found that the more a person smoked, the higher their risk of developing macular degeneration.

6 Jul 2011

U-M researchers a step closer to developing treatments for aging and chronic diseases

As our bodies first form, developing cells are a lot like children put on the school bus with their names and addresses pinned to their shirts. The notes identify one as a future heart cell, another as a liver cell, a third as a neuron. And that's what they each grow up to be. But once those cells reach adulthood, changes to those original marching orders caused by aging, disease and other stressors like smoking can precipitate a kind of identity crisis, researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have found.

2 Jul 2011

Six new scientists to receive SWCRF grants for cancer research

This year, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation awarded individual grants to six new researchers in addition to funding 18 collaborative grants and three ongoing individual grants. The Foundation expanded its scientific grants program to a total of more than $3.1 million.

1 Jul 2011