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.
Roy Britten Dies
February 22, 2012
Roy Britten, who discovered that mammalian genomes includes a number of repetitive sequences, has died, reports the Los Angeles Times. He was 92. Britten, along with his colleague David Kohne at the Carnegie Institution, used a renaturation approach to show that mammalian DNA contains repetitive sequences."It soon became clear that actual genes, which serve as the blueprint for proteins, enzymes, and other cellular components, accounted for only a few percent of the genome," the LA Times says. Britten later moved to Caltech. His work "provided the most accurate images of what DNA is like until sequencing came along decades later," adds Caltech's Eric Davidson.
Wow. I shall remember Roy as
Wow.
I shall remember Roy as being delightfully courtly. We published a paper together several years ago. I hope that the ending was peaceful and full for him.
Britten performed some
Britten performed some fundamental experiments in molecular biology. We all learned about cot curves in undergrad biology. I send my condolences to Ken, his son, and an excellent scientist as well.
I met Roy Britten only once
I met Roy Britten only once in Summer 1980. Much earlier I was trying to discover ribosomal DNA using his technique. In 1978 I published a short note titled
"Periodically interspersed repetitive sequences may govern higher-order DNA coiling in chromatin and chromosomes". In this paper the interspersed periodic arrangement of repetitive and unique sequences in eukaryotic DNAs was proposed as the underlying molecular basis for higher-order DNA coiling in chromatin and mitotic chromosomes. I was able to calculate the size of some sea urchin chromosomes in good agreement with direct observation. The model predicted: (i) splitting of contiguous genes by inserted repetitive sequences; and (ii) two types of genomes differing in the hierarchy of DNA coiling. Britten was interested and wrote a letter when I was in Russia. When I was CA I called him and was invited to a 5 o'clock tea in his house. He was very cordial and after the tea invited me to a ride on his boat. I will never forget him.
Michael Lerman, Ph.D., M.D.