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.
Principal Investigator Offers Update on Luxembourg Partnership
Over the next year, the initiative plans to sequence 100 to 150 blood proteins from the brain, liver, and lungs, as well as analyze genome sequences of 120 people from families with several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease, and congenital heart defects.
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