Navigation Links
Plants display 'molecular amnesia'
Date:12/2/2008

This release is available in French.

Plant researchers from McGill University and the University of California, Berkeley, have announced a major breakthrough in a developmental process called epigenetics. They have demonstrated for the first time the reversal of what is called epigenetic silencing in plants.

The findings are important to develop a better understanding of gene regulation in the continuing quest to breed enhanced crops that produce higher yields, are more resistant to disease and can better tolerate environmental stress all keys to helping improve the world's food supply. But perhaps even more important, the discovery may lead to new insights into how epigenetic processes work in the human body, which could assist in developing new ways of modifying our genetic makeup to help us avoid such diseases as cancer.

Although nearly every cell in our body is genetically identical, the researchers explained, each cell type expresses a distinct set of genes. Changes to the proteins around which DNA is wound are called "epigenetic" modifications, because they alter patterns of this gene expression without changing the actual DNA sequence. However, like changes in DNA sequence, epigenetic modifications can be passed on from parent cell to daughter cell, ensuring each cell line has the proper characteristics consistently over many generations.

This process must be repeated each generation, and there is good evidence in animals that, during early development, there is a wave of epigenetic reprogramming that effectively "resets" this system. Some genes, it seems, must be more actively reset than others. And genes that do the same thing in every cell, regardless of tissue type, may not have to be reset at all.

One kind of gene is quite distinct from all of the others, because it is nearly always epigenetically inactiv
'/>"/>

Contact: Mark Shainblum
mark.shainblum@mcgill.ca
514-398-2189
McGill University
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Layered approach may yield stronger, more successful bone implants
2. Clever plants chat over their own network
3. Plants can be used to study how and why people respond differently to drugs
4. Book on weeds and invasive plants discusses how to manage them using ecological approaches
5. A greenhouse in order to study the impact of climate change on plants
6. Agent that triggers immune response in plants is uncovered
7. Scientists ramp up ability of poplar plants to disarm toxic pollutants
8. A new baseline of invasive plants in Isabela
9. Hungry microbes share out the carbon in the roots of plants
10. Scientists warn that species extinction could reduce productivity of plants on Earth by half
11. Cell transplants may improve severe urinary incontinence
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... scientists from around the world today issued a stark ... of one or two generations, the majority of the ... the handicap of severe pressure on fresh water, an ... substitute. This handicap will be self-inflicted and is, we ... chronic underlying problems led by mismanagement and sent a ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , Automated conserved noncoding sequence ... evolution among grasses , Within the genome of ... that undergo little change in position and sequence over ... proteins. Some of these evolutionarily stable sequences, so-called conserved ... of other genes or the condensation of chromosomes, but ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... popular fruit, can be made both better-tasting and longer-lasting ... , "Working with GM tomatoes that are different to ... compound, allows us to pinpoint exactly how to breed ... John Innes Centre. , The research could also lead ... life characteristics because even higher levels of the compounds ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 2A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 3A majority on Earth face severe self-inflicted water woes within 2 generations: Scientists 4Frontiers news briefs: May 23 2Frontiers news briefs: May 23 3The world's favorite fruit only better-tasting and longer-lasting 2
... pinpointed a set of common variations in human DNA ... who carry them. Some of these variations are more ... future studies examining whether lupus is more prevalent among ... study. Also, the findings point to various drug ...
... is available in French . , A ... small differences between individuals at the DNA level can ... proteins. These, in turn, are responsible for the vast ... study, part of the Genome Regulators in Disease (GRID) ...
... Centre for Cancer Research at Cardiff University have made ... save the lives of women who become resistant to ... such as tamoxifen have been a huge success in ... the drugs either fail to work, or after an ...
Cached Biology News:DNA variations signal lupus risk 2DNA variations signal lupus risk 3Tiny genetic differences have huge consequences: McGill researchers 2Further breakthroughs for breast cancer patients 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013 BioTrends ... and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds ... and infectious disease specialists reported that in the ... (e.g., intentionally delaying treatment) in anticipation of the ... six months ago, when only 6 percent reported ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... (PRWEB) May 23, 2013 The New ... STEM industries, Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), is hosting ... June 8, 2013. This all-day event will encourage students ... learn the ins and outs from many of the ... p.m. at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Pusan National University Yangsan ... biotherapeutics and contract research company focused on research ... announced today a publication reporting the induction of ... oncolytic and immunotherapeutic vaccinia JX-594 (pexastimogene devacirepvec; Jennerex ... in the May 15 th , 2013 issue ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Bed bugs compromised ... had already confirmed it. Meanwhile, My Cleaning Products offered complimentary ... victims fight the pests without using harmful chemical elements. ... 15, 2013, the affected building was actually a dormitory ... was said made on May 13 and bed bug presence ...
Breaking Biology Technology:The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 2The Majority of Physicians that Treat Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Have Begun "Warehousing" and Preparing Their HCV Patients for the Next Generation of HCV Treatments 3Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) New Jersey Hosts 10th Annual Families in Technology Day June 8, 2013 2Pusan National University Announces Science Translational Medicine Publication Highlighting Landmark Demonstration of Functional Anti-Cancer Antibody Induction in Patients Following JX-594 Treatment 2Pusan National University Announces Science Translational Medicine Publication Highlighting Landmark Demonstration of Functional Anti-Cancer Antibody Induction in Patients Following JX-594 Treatment 3Penn State Dorm Infested with Bed Bugs, My Cleaning Products Offers Complimentary Sample of Bed Bug Spray to Help Bed Bug Victims 2
... 11 /PRNewswire/ - Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TTI), a biopharmaceutical ... entered into two definitive license agreements with University Health Network ... Toronto, Ontario , granting Trillium exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize ... transplantation and cancer. , ...
... most important technological innovation during human history. This genetic ... used individuals carrying favorable gene variants for breeding purposes. ... international team led by researchers at Uppsala University has ... of the domestic chicken. The domestic chicken has ...
... ... ... , ... , , , , ...
Cached Biology Technology:Trillium expands immunology pipeline and enters stem cell field through in-licensing of two new programs 2Trillium expands immunology pipeline and enters stem cell field through in-licensing of two new programs 3Scientific breakthrough in genetic studies of animal domestication 2Toxikon Corporation Hosts Extractables and Leachables Spring Seminar 2Toxikon Corporation Hosts Extractables and Leachables Spring Seminar 3
... INK4a-ARF locus encodes two unrelated proteins both ... arrests the cell cycle in a p53-dependent ... the rapid degradation of mdm2 proteinrequired for ... accumulation. This interaction is mediated by ...
... Buffer contains a precipitant to ensure that the ... dye to allow the user to follow the ... ReddyRun™: ABgene ® s proprietary mixture of ... buffer composition used in ReddyRun™ molecular weight markers. ...
Acetylcholinesterase from human and monkey....
MAb to IgG2 (Fc gamma-2) IgG2 (Fc, gamma-2 epitope)...
Biology Products: