The scientists from A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) developed a novel methodology to probe single cells for various DNA-methylation errors at multiple loci to reveal failed maintenance of epigenetic mark results in chimeric mice, which display unpredictable phenotypes leading to developmental arrest. This methodology allows the use of a special technique utilizing a microfluidic device to safely extract one cell for performing the assay called “pronuclear transfer” to ameliorate reprogramming defects in embryos. This study not only details the epigenetic reprogramming dynamics in early mammalian embryos, but it also suggests diagnostic and potential future therapeutic applications.
Source: Science, 2013 Sept 6
Autophagy is the eukaryotic cell’s waste management system; it collects and recycles damaged organelles and…
For decades, scientists have been unraveling the intricate mechanisms that govern gene expression. While DNA…
“To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.” - Benjamin Franklin. For millennia, fasting has been…
With the rising prevalence and legalization of cannabis worldwide, understanding its biological impact—especially on mental…
Strokes have long been associated with acute brain injury, but their effects extend far beyond…
Hepatitis C is a silent yet formidable liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus…