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.
Posters, Please!
Nature Chemistry's Neil Withers can't imagine attending meetings without poster sessions. "This is surely testament to the power of the humble poster: They are the places to see the newest science and talk to the people who actually do the work in the lab," he says at The Skeptical Chymist.
To have an effective poster, Withers says that "clarity on content are key." He recommends thoroughly considering the audience before putting the poster together. "When presenting your poster to other delegates, finding out what level of background knowledge they have will mean you pitch it at the right level and gives you the chance to create a dialogue" — which, Withers adds, is the point of the poster session. "One of the key attractions of most poster sessions is the opportunity to talk to the people. ... As networking events, poster sessions are unequalled at most scientific meetings: relaxed and full of opportunities to bump into people who might make the ideal advisor for that post-doctoral position you were looking for — and vice versa," he says.