Monthly Archives: June 2016

This report [attached] describes interesting research on a unique idea: Are the functions of embryonic stem (ES) cells controlled at the level of transcription (DNA –> RNA) or at the level of translation (RNA –> protein)? And does the “stress … Continue reading →

Attached is an excellent letter-to-the-Editor concerning how all true scientists should react to the “predatory journals“, and I’m sure that many of us have been following these policies––without seeing this letter. We all must “fight fire with fire.”   Predatory … Continue reading →

Ever since the first description of Homo floresiensis in 2004, these controversial little hominins (“Hobbits?”) from the Indonesian island of Flores have raised very intriguing questions. Do these skeletal remains represent a new species in the extinct hominin family, or … Continue reading →

Although this intriguing story comes from The New York Times rather than a scientific journal, it has a “gene-environment interactions” theme. This story also represents a powerful message for everyone. A Cautionary Tale of ‘Stem Cell Tourism’ By GINA KOLATA JUNE … Continue reading →

As we’ve stated before many times, multifactorial traits are the result of contributions from many genes (DNA sequence), from epigenetics (DNA-methylation, RNA-interference, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling––independent of DNA sequence changes), and environmental effects. Today we have robust genome-wide association (GWA), … Continue reading →

The attached brief report addresses an additional (very valuable) point, about the “data reproducibility crisis” hysteria currently going on. To those of us “in the trenches”, we’ve always been aware of the “variability of the furry beast” or cells in … Continue reading →

For those interested in the human (and all other) genomes and their standardized gene nomenclature, you can sign up for this NewsLetter at: http://www.genenames.org/hgncnews/ Below is pasted the Human Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) Spring/Summer NewsLetter Issue. Naming chimp genes As … Continue reading →

Studies of Y chromosomes over the past several decades have opened a window into the history of the Homo sapiens sapiens species, through the reconstruction and exploitation of a patri-lineal (Y-genealogical) tree, based on hundreds of variants. It is now … Continue reading →

The genome sequence of carrot (Daucus carota L.) [see attached article] is the first completed for a species in the family Apiaceae. This evolutionary genomics study furthers our knowledge of the evolution of the important euasterid II clade. Analyzing the … Continue reading →

Multifactorial traits are the result of the combined contribution from genes (DNA sequence), epigenetic effects (chromosomal events including DNA methylation, RNA-interference, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling), and the environment. These two papers describe events involving histone modifications that lead to … Continue reading →