Category Archives: Evolutionary Epigenetics

Did Epigenetics Make Us Smart?

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Chris Womack

Finally there’s research comparing the epigenetic marks of human brain neurons to those of other primates, and it’s found real differences that make us function in a unique way. Do these epigenetic modifications help give us the brainpower for reflection, sentience, sapience, consciousness, and so forth? I’m not a gambler, but since primate neuron-specific genes don’t show a whole lot of difference from one another in their protein-coding sequences, that’s where I’d put my money. If I really had to. With only one study to look at so far, this line of inquiry is in its infancy, to be sure. No one else has looked at the epigenetic component of human brain evolution. Hennady Shulha, Jessica Crisci, and Schahram Akbarian at the University … Continue reading →

Posted in Applications, Chromatin Structure, Chromosome conformation capture, Conformation Capture, Divergent Transcription, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Histone Modifications, Neuroscience | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What could epigenetics reveal to us about human evolution?

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Sometimes you don’t need Indiana Jones to solve an archaeological mystery, sometimes you need a geneticist. The research article Matthias Meyer et al. A High-Coverage Genome Sequence from an Archaic Denisovan Individual. (2012) Science, proves that point. In the article the whole genome of a little girl who lived ~80,000 years ago, and belonged to an ancient human species called the Denosivans, is sequenced from a (big) tooth and a (tiny) knuckle. Listen here to an NPR interview on the subject. These results are why archaeologists have become as fired up as geneticists are, over next generation sequencing.  NGS has recently had a tremendous impact on their field, by producing valid ancient DNA results from some incredibly rare and precious … Continue reading →

Posted in DNA Methylation, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Next Gen Sequencing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Trangenerational Epigenetic Inheritance: An Environmental Toxin Exposure & Stress Combinational Phenotype

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Nicole Kelesoglu

How much of an expert are you on environmental toxins and epigenetic inheritance? Practically everyone is aware of DTT. Many of us are aware of the plasticizer BPA. But how many of us are aware of vinclozolin? If you work in the field of epigenetics, you should be. The lab of Michael Skinner, at Washington State University, has been able to use this fungicide to study transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in male rat germ lines. What is it, though? In this case, after initial exposure to the environmental toxin in utero, a transgenerational epigenetic inheritance phenotype exists at least through the third generation in a lineage, in absence of that toxin. The vinclozolin rat model was applied recently in the Skinner … Continue reading →

Posted in Animal Models, Behavioral Epigenetics, Bioinformatics, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Microarray, Transcriptome | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pondering the Evolution of E. coli (0104:H4)

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

The trace back investigation in europe appears to have determined the source of the outbreak of the hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome causing E.coli strain (0104:H4). Organic bean sprouts are the culprit and the farm field has been identified. This Reuters report makes an interesting point about organic farming.  Regardless, identifying the source is a critical step in stopping an outbreak. For long term planning, we need science that establishes how a pathogenic E. coli strain like this evolves.  That way, chinks in the armor can be identified. Epigenetics has a role to play in the evolution of bacterial virulence factors. It allows the bacteria to respond to various environments faster than by the process of genetic mutations alone. … Continue reading →

Posted in Evolutionary Epigenetics, Gene Silencing, Methylation, Microbial Epigenetics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Are your Allergies an Evolutionary Advantage?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Many of my neighbors spent a long day outside on Mother’s day, in their running shoes…chasing a black bolt of lighting in and out of the woods, and down the road. But who could really blame that run away miniature schnauzer? It’s finally spring! Of course, there are some of us (up to 30%) who can’t enjoy spring time quite as much, due to our seasonal allergies.  The epigenetic inheritance of allergies makes sense conceptually.  Allergic disease overall, which includes atopic asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, anaphylactic reactions and food allergies, is on the rise generationally. Allergies have some genetic basis, but triggers and timing vary, even between twins. Allergy suffers can blame their high levels of total serum IgE antibodies, for … Continue reading →

Posted in Cellular Biology, Developmental Biology, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Genetics, Immunology, In Utero, Pathology | Leave a comment

Epigenetics, Eh! to Promote Canadian Collaboration

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Nicole Kelesoglu

Late registration is still available online for Epigenetics Eh!, the Canadian Conference on Epigenetics, which is taking place in London, Ontario from May 4 to May 7th, 2011. Part of the stated mission for this conference is to promote a Canadian Epigenetics Research Network (EPIGENETICS CANADA). The epigenetic research areas of the speakers for this conference include, but are not limited to the following. Diabetes Early detection of cancer Leukemia Pluripotency in ES cells Proteomics to study protein import into the nucleus Genomic CNV and epigenetic changes in Neurobehavioral disorders Chromatin factors in brain development Molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation of neural stem cells Genomic imprinting X chromosome inactivation Dicer expression and/or microRNA function. ING family … Continue reading →

Posted in Applications, Bioinformatics, Biomarkers, Cellular Biology, Chromatin Structure, DNA Methylation, Developmental Biology, Divergent Transcription, Evolutionary Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Gene Silencing, Genetics, Hematology, Histone Modifications, Leukemia, Neuroscience, Non-coding RNA, Plant Epigenetics, Reproductive Biology, Stem Cells, Translational Research, chIP, siRNA | 2 Comments