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.
Small and Smart Storage Boxes for LIMS
While there are a lot of high-end storage systems marketed to large-scale sequencing operations, it's not every day that you come by specially designed desktop storage units natively hosting scientific data management software for the individual researcher or small lab. BioTeam has hacked a few Drobo storage arrays to embed their own MiniLIMS software directly inside the array. This isn't a product that the BioTeam is offering, but it's an interesting example of successful hacking for research.
Getting LIMS to run as an application inside a storage array — a desktop-sized storage array — is worth taking a look at because, according to BioTeam, in the near future it's not inconceivable that such "smart storage" devices could replace PC-based laboratory instrument operating workstations.
"As storage units get smarter and more capable the need for a dedicated Windows PC attached to an instrument or Genome Sequencer becomes less important….Something like this seems attractive for single-instrument genomics environments or labs where dedicated research IT staff may not be easily available," they wrote on their blog.
The little storage box that could:
O, It is really an interest
O, It is really an interest product, it will be worth buying for small lab!