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.
Pop the Popcorn Now
August 18, 2009
Set your TiVos. Tonight's NOVA scienceNOW, airing at 9pm Eastern, looks into personal genetic testing. The preview to the episode says Harvard's Steven Pinker took a genetic test that told him he had an 80 percent risk of being bald — Pinker's hair is a cross between Mozart and Einstein — and now he's part of the PGP that will be posting their DNA sequences on the Internet. If you can't catch it tonight and haven't succumbed to getting a digital recorder, you can watch the program tomorrow at PBS's website.