Connection Between Epigenome, Selective Mutability, Evolution, and Human Disease
Li, Harris et al., PLoS Genetics
Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine and elsewhere propose a "connection between the epigenome, selective mutability, evolution, and human disease" based on the findings of their study on associations of structural mutability with germline DNA methylation and with non-allelic homologous recombination mediated by low-copy repeats. "Combined evidence from four human sperm methylome maps, human genome evolution, structural polymorphisms in the human population, and previous genomic and disease studies consistently points to a strong association of germline hypomethylation and genomic instability," the Baylor-led team writes.
Hurray for Haussler
June 21, 2011
The University of California, Santa Cruz's David Haussler has won Oxford University's 2011 Weldon Memorial Prize for his work "using computers to tackle complex problems in biology," the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports. Established in 1911, the prize is awarded in honor of Oxford's Walter Weldon, and consists of a medal and prize lecture to be given at the university. In a statement, Haussler said that "this prize was given to many of my heroes, so I'm very honored and will have a hard time living up to this."