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.
Just Be Glad There Weren't Paparazzi in Your Day, Charlie
The Darwin coverage hasn't slowed down yet. Here's a piece by University College London's Michael Neve speculating on how our scientist-hero would've reacted to all of this celebration of his work. (In a word: badly.) Neve cites "Darwin's deep need for privacy" as just one reason that the scientist "would have surely reached for the word 'deluge' or 'explosion' to describe the sheer amount of activity that we are all witnessing to celebrate his birth in 1809 and the 1859 publication of The Origin of Species."
Meanwhile, Discover magazine's March issue offers a special focus on Darwin. Check out this article on evidence that humans have undergone rapid evolution in the past 10,000 years, and this story on modern-day Galapagos -- the research hotspots of today, including deep ocean trenches, abandoned mines, and New Guinea, among others.