Epigenetics – beyond genes
Further reading
November/December 2007, pages 16-18
Jewels among the junk (by Ken Pang)
Investigates the link between ‘junk DNA’ and medical disorders.
November/December 2007, page 12
Epigenetic nanosensors to test for breast cancer
Reports on the development of nanoscale biosensors to improve early detection of breast cancer.
March 2007, pages 25-27
How cancer cells take control (by Susan Clark and Branwen Morgan)
Explains how cancer is about more than what’s in our genes.
Cosmos
February/March 2010, pages 62-69
The trouble with genes (by Elizabeth Finkel)
Reviews our changing understanding of genes and DNA, and the role of non-coding DNA.
Environmental Health Perspectives
March 2006
Epigenetics: The science of change
Provides a technical review of research on epigenetics, including diagrams.
10 May 2010, page 145
Genomics goes beyond DNA sequence (by Alla Katsnelson)
Covers the development of methods to map the epigenome.
7 August 2008, pages 795-798
Epigenomics: Detailed analysis (by Laura Bonetta)
Discusses research tools and applications of the epigenome for treating disease.
11 February 2009, page 12
Gene caps may turn viruses cancerous (by Bob Holmes)
Looks at epigenetic modification of viral genes and their association with cancerous cells.
29 November 2008, page 12
Memories may be stored on your DNA (by Devin Powell)
Claims that methyl groups on DNA may help form memories.
12 July 2008, pages 28-33
Rewriting Darwin: The new non-genetic inheritance (by Emma Young)
Outlines inheritance of characteristics acquired by parents through epigenetics.
28 June 2008, pages 44-47
MicroRNAs: The cell's little emperors (by Henry Nicholls)
Describes the role of microRNAs in gene expression and their use in treatment for diseases.
13 June 2007, page 20
‘Junk’ DNA makes compulsive reading (by Andy Coghlan)
Explores the role of extra DNA fragments.
19 May 2007, page 8
New gene therapy targets cholesterol (by Linda Geddes)
Explores a new technique to cut cholesterol levels.
7 April 2007, pages 42-45
Turn genes on, turn diseases off (by Bob Holmes)
Looks at the possibilities of using RNA interference based treatments for all kinds of diseases.
13 November 2006
You are what your grandmother ate (by Roxanne Khamsi)
A new mouse study shows that a mother's diet can change gene behaviour for at least two generations.
24 May 2006
Safety scare over 'the new gene therapy' (by Peter Aldhous)
Reports on an experiment using RNAi that caused liver damage in mice.
1 April 2006, page 17
Single RNA jab adjusts blood cholesterol (by Andy Coghlan)
Describes how an injection of RNAi molecules can block the gene that makes ‘bad’ cholesterol.
4 March 2006, page 15
Have we got cell division all wrong? (by Rowan Hooper)
Describes a new insight into the separation of chromosomes during mitosis.
6 January 2006, page 10
Men inherit hidden cost of dad's vices (by Rowan Hooper)
Describes how poor nutrition and smoking in early life may influence the health of men's sons and grandsons.
17 November 2005
The food you eat may change your genes for life (by Alison Motluk)
Suggests that swallowing a pill or eating a specific food supplement may permanently change the expression of your genes.
5 September 2005
Human stem cells become unstable in the lab (by Gaia Vince)
Looks at the effect of culturing stem cells for long periods in the lab on genes known to cause cancer.
2 August 2005
Famine increases the risk of schizophrenia (by Gaia Vince)
Reports on a study in China showing an increased risk of schizophrenia for babies born during famine.
11 June 2005, page 7
Toxic effects can pass down the generations (by Rowan Hooper)
Suggests that epigenetic changes are responsible for decreases in sperm counts for at least four subsequent generations of male rats exposed to pesticides.
8 June 2005
New suspect implicated in the development of cancer (by Andy Coghlan)
Reports on three studies suggesting that microRNA misregulation can cause cancer.
31 May 2005
Embryonic stem cells pass key safety test (by Shaoni Bhattacharya)
Suggests that the methylation patterns of six genes in four embryonic stem cell lines does not change when grown in the lab.
11 April 2005
Pregnant smokers increases grandkids' asthma risk (by Gaia Vince)
Suggests that the effects of smoking when pregnant can be passed on to children and grandchildren.
27 November 2004, page 36-39
Unlocking the secret power of RNA (by Philip Cohen)
Reports on the growing awareness of a more important role for RNA in the cell.
10 November 2004
Unlikely ally rescues gene-blocking therapy (by Philip Cohen)
Suggests that cholesterol can be used to enhance the effect of injecting RNAi molecules to treat diseases in humans.
30 October 2004, page 47
Life sentence (by Alison Motluk)
Reports on diet during pregnancy and the increased risk of heart disease and diabetes in children.
15 September 2004
Gene technique to fight human blindness (by Peter Farley)
Reports on the first human trial of RNAi to treat a condition that causes blindness.
14 March 2007
How to make – or break – memory (by Nikhil Swaminathan)
Reports on a study that memories may be formed by the same gene-silencing tool that is used in embryonic development.
12 February 2007
Ask the experts
Answers the question ‘What is junk DNA, and what is it worth?’
5 July 2005
Identical twins exhibit differences in gene expression (by Sarah Graham)
Suggests that the differences observed between identical twins may be due to different DNA methylation patterns.
1 October 2004, pages 30-37
The hidden genetic program of complex organisms (by John Mattick)
Describes the regulation of genes by RNA encoded in ‘junk DNA’ and its role in development and evolution.
1 October 2004, pages 68-71
Hitting the genetic off switch (by Gary Stix)
Reports on companies considering the use of drugs and RNAi in therapies to block the action of RNA.
1 December 2003, pages 78-85
The unseen genome: Beyond DNA (by W. Wayt Gibbs)
Reviews the epigenetic control of gene expression by DNA imprinting and methylation.
1 November 2003, pages 26-33
The unseen genome: Gems among the junk (by W. Wayt Gibbs)
Reviews the role of RNA encoded in the ‘junk DNA’ and the role of RNA in control of gene expression.
August 2003, pages 26-33
Censors of the genome (by Nelson Lau and David Bartel)
Provides an overview of the RNAi mechanism in plant and animal cells.
June 2008
Honeybees throw light on diet and gene expression
Describes diet-induced epigenetics in bees.
Page updated May 2010.