MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'epigenetics'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:35 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050908&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FJLbNA_qy-k0%2F Creating a Healthier Future through Prevention of Child Maltreatment Excellent panel presentation on effects of and strategies to prevent child maltreatment. Experts describe harms including a long list of psychological, cognitive and physical health issues, brain development and epigenetic consequences, fatalities, legal, government and social costs of abuse and neglect. The lifetime economic burden in the US is estimated between a conservative figure of $121 billion (2008) and an estimated half a trillion dollars, per year. They discuss what can be done for prevention with public health and policy approaches, including eliminating risk factors, and resource allocation from cost-benefit analyses. Evidence-based prevention programs include home visitations by nurses, maternity ward educati... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050908 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:12:36 +0100 5050908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298767&cid=t_141639_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F12%2F29%2Fuh-biochemist-works-to-revolutionize-ovarian-cancer-treatment-by-unleashing-the-power-of-micrornas-nanotechnology%2F The day when an ovarian cancer patient can treat her tumor with a single, painless pill instead of a toxic drug cocktail is the ultimate goal of the pioneering research of a University of Houston (UH) scientist.  Preethi Gunaratnee, assistant professor in the department of biology and biochemistry, is studying a class of tiny genetic [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298767 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:01:17 +0100 4298767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913180&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FX7s0_8YcZNU%2F Epigenetic Landscapes A scientist learns his twin brother is in the hospital from alcoholism and drives from Calgary to Vancouver to visit him, along the way explaining the basics of epigenetics to the camera operator. Great concept, nicely produced and edited with handmade graphics and beautiful video comparing epigenetics to landscapes in the Canadian Rockies. Another entry in the Gene Screen BC 2010 genetic science video contest, winner to be announced Sept. 8. SciVee pubcast DOI: 10.4016/20905.01. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913180 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:27:03 +0100 3913180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581730&cid=t_141639_123_f&fid=39035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liddlekidzblog.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fdoes-infant-massage-increase-iq.html Another benefit to infant massage . . .Brain Development! (PhysOrg.com) -- UCI child neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Tallie Z. Baram has found that maternal care and other sensory input triggers activity in a baby's developing brain that improves cognitive function and builds resilience to stress. For an infant, a mother’s touch provides a feeling of security, comfort and love. But research at UC Irvine is showing that it does much more.UCI child neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Tallie Z. Baram has found that caressing and other sensory input triggers activity in a baby’s developing brain that improves cognitive function and builds resilience to stress.The finding contributes to growing knowledge about epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors can reprogram the expressi... Liddle Kidz Infant and Pediatric Massage Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581730 Thu, 20 May 2010 07:12:00 +0100 3581730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262758&cid=t_141639_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-your-dna-your-destiny-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F For many of us who have daily pain due to disease, we are very familiar with the role genetics play in our lives. Do we have to allow fear to enter our lives and our futures if we had close relatives, such as mothers or fathers, who suffered similar diseases? Most of us have been taught in college that your DNA is more or less set in bedrock and determines your future. I have a relative who has been obsessed for many years in finding health information on all our relatives, living and dead. At a family gathering she corners a relative or two and questions them about their health in minute detail.  I believe she does this out of sincere concern for the future health of her children and grandchildren but also out of fear for herself. Sadly, I often sense a feeling of hopelessness in her man... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262758 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:10:55 +0100 3262758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185494&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2F2eMlW24gSf8%2Fchild-abuse-epigenetics.html [Image by net efekt.] The Epigenetic Link between Child Abuse and Suicide Risk Portion of a talk focussing on a study that looked at the epigenetics of people with histories of child abuse who died by suicide, and found increased methylation in some areas. Slides not available, but a fascinating talk on a hot topic. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185494 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:30:05 +0100 3185494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178887&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FhmLq29-6mFE%2Fepigenetics.html as a Substrate for Gene-Environment Interaction Epigenetics in neuropsychiatry. Part of McGill’s Integrated Program in Neuroscience Inaugural Retreat. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178887 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:30:01 +0100 3178887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159919&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fgotta-love-it-even-daycare.html So the other day I go to pick up my oldest and the businesswoman who runs the show said to me "I have a question" I quickly see her Time Magazine with the cover which asks "Can we change our genes"I immediately launch into a diatribe about epigenetics. The current state of epigenetics is even murkier than micro RNAs. I basically go on a rant and at the end she says "So can those cigarettes I smoked as a kid screw up my grandson?"OMFG!!! This is why I hate TIME magazine. AND the lay press, AND the secondary education system in this country...AND.........Ok, here is the real take on Epigenetics. It is a control system, plain and simple, just like these RNAs and whatever else may control t he rate at which DNA does its dance.Monogenetic disease importance is pretty clear.... Gene Broken (of i... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159919 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:40:00 +0100 3159919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092755&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fchildhood_stress_genetically_alters_kids_to_be_stressedout_.htm HAMBURG (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) — German scientists have discovered how childhood stress genetically alters kids so that they become stressed-out adults. They found that stress at an early age permanently alters the expression of a key gene in the brain, resulting in a lifetime of elevated levels of a hormone that contributes to depression, according to a study published by the journal Nature Neuroscience. More... Copyright 2009 Deutsche Presse-Agentur (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092755 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:49:00 +0100 3092755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023195&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Facute_stress_leaves_its_marks_on_hippocampal_dna.htm Brett Norman - Rockefeller University In trying to explain psychiatric disorders, genes simply cannot tell the whole story. The real answers are in the interaction of genes and the environment. Post-traumatic stress disorder requires some trauma, for instance, and people, for the most part, aren't born depressed. Now research has revealed one mechanism by which a stressful experience changes the way that genes are expressed in the rat brain. The discovery of 'epigenetic' regulation of genes in the brain is helping change the way scientists think about psychiatric disorders and could open new avenues to treatment. Richard Hunter, a postdoc in Rockefeller University's Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, found that a single 30-minute episode of acute stress ca... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023195 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:25:00 +0100 3023195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934836&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FC8E4JEe4QnY%2Fsocial-neuroscience-2.html Connected Minds: Loneliness, Social Brains and the Need for Community A recent release from the excellent RSA Vision lecture series: the leading expert in social neuroscience explains the subdiscipline. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934836 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:30:07 +0100 2934836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842707&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fla_qzM5FL_A%2F Two middle-age women, Sue and Sheila,  are born as identical twins, but one of them is aging faster by 10 years. Two identical twin brothers are so alike their hair went grey at the same time, but one of them cannot tolerate pain as much as the other. And there is a six-year old girl who was diagnosed with leukemia but her sister is completely healthy. Identical twins are monozygotic – they come from the same single egg that split early in development, and therefore share the same exact DNA, so we expect them to look alike, have the same personality and experience life the same way. But scientists say that each individual is still very much unique from the other. Why? It’s a process called epigenetic  – when non-genetic factors cause the gene to behave or be expresse... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842707 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:59:24 +0100 2842707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778553&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FnbvVWl6zhjM%2Fpredicting-personality.html [Image by mknowles] The Next Big Thing: Predicting Personality Panel on genetics, imaging, personality, literature and psychiatry. Includes the story of twins separated at birth who both ended up working for the BBC. Pop science and pop psych in Y2K. More: info and production credits. (Source: Channel N) Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778553 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:30:44 +0100 2778553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408531&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fis_happiness_inheritable.htm Elsevier An article published in the journal Bioscience Hypotheses suggests that our feelings in our lifetime can affect our children. Dr Halabe Bucay suggests that a wide range of chemicals that our brain generates when we are in different moods could affect 'germ cells' (eggs and sperm), the cells that ultimately produce the next generation. Such natural chemicals could affect the way that specific genes are expressed in the germ cells (epigenetic inheritance), and hence how a child develops. In his article Dr Alberto Halabe Bucay of Research Center Halabe and Darwich, Mexico, suggested that the hormones and chemicals resulting from happiness, depression and other mental states can affect our eggs and sperm, resulting in lasting changes in our children at the time of their conception. Br... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408531 Fri, 15 May 2009 08:12:00 +0100 2408531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349267&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fwg_sMacSDno%2F HA! Don’t laugh, but this study found genetic evidence that our neighbors across the pond have a unique sense of humor, and apparently it’s the negative kind. Twins share a humor gene A survey of 4,000 twins suggested that British humor, those that are filled with sarcasm and self-deprecation, is linked to genes in British men and women, but not shared by Americans! The “positive” kind of humor, like telling jokes and looking on the bright side, is shared by both sides of the Atlantic. But the negative kind, like biting sarcasm and teasing, are genetically linked only in Britain. The researchers admit that developing a taste for either kind of humor is an interplay between genes and the environment but it’s interesting to note the difference between the two nationalities. But her... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349267 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:15:00 +0100 2349267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313425&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fgenetic_susceptibility_not_just_from_inherited_dna.htm Study finds transcription errors may be more significant epigenetic influence than environment factors Jules Asher, NIMH The first large-scale study of its kind in twins has turned up evidence that we inherit instructions for the turning on and off of genes via mechanisms beyond the traditional sequence differences in the genetic code. Moreover, the results suggest that early random errors in replicating these instructions may trump environmental influences in shaping us. Art Petronis, MD, PhD, University of Toronto, and colleagues, reported on their findings in identical and fraternal twins in the February, 2009 issue of Nature Genetics. Even though they share the same genes, identical twins often differ in important ways. For example, if one identical twin develops schizophrenia, the oth... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313425 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:08:00 +0100 2313425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313426&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_lasting_epigenetic_influence_of_earlylife_adversi.htm Conclusions: These results highlight an epigenetic molecular mechanism potentially underlying lifelong and transgenerational perpetuation of changes in gene expression and behavior incited by early abuse and neglect. Source... © 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313426 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:53:00 +0100 2313426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323429&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOQfeCwSPfVw%2F Has your mom ever told you not to watch TV too closely? Have you been told as a child that reading too much (or cross-stitching too much) will hurt your eyes? That’s not too far out an idea, at all. Severe myopia or nearsightnedness. Image: Flickr Myopia or nearsightedness is a condition where one has trouble seeing objects that are farther away. Symptoms, usually developing in early childhood and teen years include squinting when trying to concentrate on an object far away, or holding an object very close to the face (to read, or to see it clearer). The person may want to sit very near the TV or computer close, and prefer to sit in the front of the class. But does this mean that close-work and intensive reading cause eye problems? Studies have shown that myopia is more common in some po... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323429 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:29:35 +0100 2323429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2222636&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F02%2Fepigenetics-and-gene-structures.php Following up on this previous post on epigentics, I thought I'd point to a couple nice examples of using epigenetic information to obtain insight into basic biology. The first is, I think it's fair to say, a landmark paper identifying a set of over a thousand likely functional non-coding RNAs in mouse cell lines. The approach used here was epigenetic: the authors generated genome-wide maps of chromatin modifications known to mark promoters and transcribed regions, and screened out all the regions of the genome already known to be transcriptionally active. This left them with a set of putatively functional transcripts, which tended to be highly evolutionarily conserved (indicating function), and many of which they confirmed via other means to be novel long non-coding RNAs. The second is a n... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2222636 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:40:00 +0100 2222636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2216662&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F02%2Fepigenetics-in-ny-times.php Not news to many readers, I'm sure, but Nicholas Wade has a nice article on epigenetics and gene regulation. Some people in the article complain about the lack of a focused investment by the government in this area. I found this a little odd--isn't quite a bit of large-scale work being done by the ENCODE project? (Source: Gene Expression) Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2216662 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:50:00 +0100 2216662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210645&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F3kJAqzYdZVw%2F It doesn’t come as a surprise that childhood abuse has long term effects that show itself way into adulthood. Adults with a history of childhood abuse are known to have higher risks of psychological problems and difficulty responding to stress. But a recent study found that abuse in early childhood can permanently change how certain genes in the brain work, so much, that the risk of suicide is increased. A Canadian study led by Michael Meaney examined the gene for glucocorticoid receptor – which controls a brain’s response to stress – in 12 suicide victims with a history of abuse, and another 12 who did not suffer abuse as children. The researchers found that those who have been abused as children produced chemical changes in the brain which reduced the gene’s activity, and in ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210645 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:51:05 +0100 2210645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211316&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fchildhood_trauma_produces_lifelong_effect_on_genes_and_brai.htm Cynthia Lee, McGill University McGill University and Douglas Institute scientists have discovered that childhood trauma can actually alter your DNA and shape the way your genes work. This confirms in humans earlier findings in rats, that maternal care plays a significant role in influencing the genes that control our stress response. Using a sample of 36 brains; 12 suicide victims who were abused; 12 suicide victims who were not abused and 12 controls, the researchers discovered different epigenetic markings in the brains of the abused group. These markings influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function, a stress-response which increases the risk of suicide. This research builds upon findings published last May that showed how child abuse can leave epigenetic marks on DNA. But, in t... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211316 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:36:00 +0100 2211316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2134742&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2FC8jwXEDEjjI%2F A recent article in Newsweek from science writer Sharon Begley reports on “the new Lamarckism,” citing studies from epigenetics researchers, including Emma Whitelaw. The article seems to be all about transgenerational epigenetics, but rather than ever use the word “epigenetics,” the favored term is “the new Lamarckism.” Link But evidence for the new Lamarckism is strong enough to say the last word on inheritance and evolution has not been written. My guess is that Begley was intent on building up controversy in her opening that seemed to be criticizing evolution during Darwin’s big 200/150 year. And in that regard, she piqued the interest of one of the most popular science bloggers, PZ Myers, who criticized the article in a post on his blog–s... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2134742 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:44:14 +0100 2134742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033537&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fepigenetics_may_explain_susceptibility_to_anxiety_depressio.htm Research conducted by a Swiss research team suggests that a family of genes involved in regulating the expression of other genes in the brain is responsible for helping us deal with external inputs such as stress. Their results may give a clue to why some people are more susceptible to anxiety or depression than others. The researchers from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the National Competence Center "Frontiers in Genetics" studied the role of a family of genes known as KRAB-ZFP, which acts as genetic censors, selectively silencing the expression of other genes. These repressors make up about 2% of our genetic material, but little is known about how this "epigenetic" silencing process works, what the long-term consequences are, and even which genes are targeted... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033537 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:38:00 +0100 2033537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011145&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2F458418742%2F While Landes Bioscience made headway by debuting a journal devoted solely to epigenetics (Epigenetics), BMC has really opened the door to epigenetics research by debuting the first open-access journal devoted to epigenetics. Epigenetics & Chromatin is a new open-access option for researchers wanting to make their research available to a wider audience. The co-editors, Steven Henikoff and Frank Grosveld, are open to a wide range of topic areas: Epigenetics & Chromatin will publish articles aimed at understanding how gene and chromosomal elements are regulated and their activities maintained during cell division, self-renewal, differentiation and environmental alteration. Epigenetic research encompasses studies that use model systems to discover and investigate epigenetic mechanisms,... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011145 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:02:36 +0100 2011145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960801&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FFIUJ-Ba6pWs%2F A new theory has emerged about the genetic basis of mental disorders, and it has to do with our parental genes fighting for dominance. The theory outlines that genes from the father’s sperm are in an evolutionary tug-of-war with genes from the mother’s egg. Whichever becomes dominant tips brain development that direction. An excerpt from the NY Times - A strong bias toward the father pushes a developing brain along the autistic spectrum, toward a fascination with objects, patterns, mechanical systems, at the expense of social development. A bias toward the mother moves the growing brain along what the researchers call the psychotic spectrum, toward hypersensitivity to mood, their own and others’. This, according to the theory, increases a child’s risk of developin... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960801 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:16:49 +0100 1960801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939641&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsocial_interactions_can_alter_gene_expression_in_the_brain.htm Our DNA determines a lot about who we are and how we play with others, but recent studies of social animals (birds and bees, among others) show that the interaction between genes and behavior is more of a two-way street than most of us realize. This is not a new idea to neuroscience, but one that is gaining strength, said University of Illinois entomology and neuroscience professor Gene Robinson, lead author of a review on the subject this week in the journal Science. Genes in the brain are malleable, turning on or off in response to internal and external cues. While genetic variation influences brain function and social behavior, the authors write, social information also alters gene expression in the brain to influence behavior. Thanks to the newly sequenced genomes of several social ani... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939641 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:19:00 +0100 1939641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1911432&cid=t_141639_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fepigenetic-theory-of-major-psychosis.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911432 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:43:00 +0100 1911432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908898&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fbrain_genome_proves_highly_malleable.htm Jayne Dawkins Are genes destiny? Alternatively, are we simply the products of our environment? There is a growing sense that neither of these two possibilities fully captures the essence of the risk for psychiatric disorders. New light is being shed on the complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors as the result of growth in the field of epigenetics. While genetics is the study of how variation in gene sequence or "genotype" influences traits or "phenotypes," epigenetics (epi- from the Greek meaning outside or above) is the study of heritable changes in gene function that may occur without modifying the gene sequence, often as a consequence of environmental exposures. There are an increasing variety of epigenetic mechanisms that have been described, including the regulation o... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908898 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:30:00 +0100 1908898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914702&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Frptv0Wy-Agc%2F An interesting article on the suicidal brain came out of Biological Psychiatry this week - A gene for neurotransmitter reception is shut down in the suicidal brain. Scientists found chemical changes relating to regulation of cell development were happening in the brains of people with major depressive disorder who committed suicide. The gene controlling neurotransmitter reception plays a role in regulating behavior. It’s very interesting. Without proper regulation of behavior, then I assume the behavior would be erratic and contribute to suicidal tendencies. This is another example of epigenetics at work. Without even changing the DNA structure, environment can cause heritable changes in gene function. In this case, depression triggers the brain   via medical news today Tags:... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914702 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:44:47 +0100 1914702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892348&cid=t_141639_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F425646928%2F In yesterday's interview with Michael Posner, he says: - "There is a growing number of studies that show the importance of interaction between our genes and each of our environments. Epigenetics is going to help us understand that question better, but let me share a very interesting piece of research from my lab where we found an unusual interaction between genetics and parenting." - "Good parenting, as measured by different research-based scales, has been shown to build good effortful control which, as we saw earlier, is so important. Now, what we found is that some specific genes reduced, even eliminated, the influence of the quality of parenting. In other words, some children's development really depends on how their parents bring them up, whereas others do not - or do to... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892348 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:57:03 +0100 1892348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512395&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2FlbqK6XQkk9Y%2F University of Minnesota-Morris biologist PZ Myers has written an introduction to epigenetics at Pharyngula, with some nice illustrations of some of the basic concepts and mechanisms that are generally grouped under the heading of “epigenetics.” It’s a great way to bring yourself up to speed if you don’t know much about epigenetics and want a single article to give you the basics. I’ve come to realize that the majority of the readers here are not in that crowd, as many are working in research labs and companies that have some connection to the area of epigenetics and want to keep up on the very latest developments in epigenetics. So for those are you that are not part of that group, I highly recommend that you head over to this article and read about the basics... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512395 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:48:56 +0100 2512395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640366&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fbrave-new-epigenome.html Daniel at Genetic-Future asks "Which baby do you want? A dilemma for the 21st century parent-to-be"There is a lovely recap of an article from Nature News.....from Daniel's blog,Nature News has an intriguing article on the next three decades of reproductive medicine: essentially a series of short musings from scientists working in the field about the issues we will be facing in 30 year's time.I would say we are facing issues with this technology today. I just saw an IVF baby without a large intestine. I brought up an issue here that is not so well tracked or publicized. I mentioned in the comments that there is evidence of increased risks of birth defects and epigenetic changes that include overgrowth syndromes......But what I found out a few days ago sent chills up my spine. It turns out m... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640366 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:52:00 +0100 1640366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512397&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2FIDS_TbvOQcg%2F PZ Myers (Pharyngula), an associate professor in developmental biology, and Abigail Smith (erv), a graduate student studying retoroviral evolution, talk about a number of topics in a bloggingheads.tv exchange, including epigenetics. The segment of the video discussing epigenetics is embedded below. Related posts:Newsweek: Transgenerational epigenetics is “the new Lamarckism” A recent article in Newsweek from science writer Sharon Begley...Intro to Epigenetics University of Minnesota-Morris biologist PZ Myers has written an introduction...This Week’s NOVA scienceNOW to Feature Segment on Epigenetics It appears that the July 24, 2007 edition of NOVA... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. (Source: Epigenetics News) Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512397 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:42:37 +0100 2512397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1564154&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fmind_over_gene_expression.htm Genomic study finds common biological basis for effects of mind/body practicesHow could a single, nonpharmacological intervention help patients deal with disorders ranging from high blood pressure, to pain syndromes, to infertility, to rheumatoid arthritis? That question may have been answered by a study finding that eliciting the relaxation response - a physiologic state of deep rest - influences the activation patterns of genes associated with the body's response to stress. The collaborative investigation by members of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Genomics Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) appears in the open-access journal PLoS One. "For hundreds of years Western medicine has looked at mind and bod... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1564154 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:16:00 +0100 1564154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561255&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsome_are_wired_to_be_anxious.htm We all know people who are tense and nervous and can't relax. They may have been wired differently since childhood. New research by the HealthEmotions Research Institute and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) published in PLoS ONE indicates that the brains of those suffering from anxiety and severe shyness in social situations consistently respond more strongly to stress, and show signs of being anxious even in situations that others find safe. Dr Ned Kalin, chairman of the UW Department of Psychiatry and HealthEmotions Research Institute and colleagues looked at brain activity, anxious behavior, and stress hormones in adolescent rhesus monkeys, which have long been used as a model to understand anxious temperament in human c... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561255 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:14:00 +0100 1561255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512398&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2FFOR1NF3R-QU%2F In February 2008, I made the decision to shut down this blog in order to spend more time focusing on completing my degree and pushing my research project forward. Last month I completed my B.S. in Genetics and Cell Biology at Washington State University after an extremely stressful four years in which I tried to balance responsibilities as a full-time student, undergraduate researcher, husband, father, and blogger, among many other pursuits. This year, something had to give as my class schedule was extremely demanding and lab courses required a much larger share of my time. In addition, I had decided not to attend graduate school right away and was turning my attention to finding a research technician position in the area. That search is still ongoing, and I have applied for and interviewe... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512398 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:35:34 +0100 2512398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1566924&cid=t_141639_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2008%2F06%2Fmicrobiology-book-reviews.html A number of book reviews on microbiology books have been published recently. Extracts provided below:BACILLUS: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY"The quality of the chapters is uniformly high. Together they provide a review of significant progress toward a better and deeper understanding of the physical structure and molecular biological organization and function in Bacillus subtilis. As a consequence, a truly intimate grasp of this bacterium is achieved." from The Quarterly Review of BiologyFurther information: BACILLUSREAL-TIME PCR IN MICROBIOLOGY: FROM DIAGNOSIS TO CHARACTERIZATION"... enjoyable and easy to read ... well-referenced and provide an easy to follow explanation, especially the chapter on fluorogenic chemistry which also has clear illustrations. The table of design rules for olig... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1566924 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:51:00 +0100 1566924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446401&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fepic_genetics.htm By Tina Hesman Saey Genes' chemical clothes may underlie the biology behind mental illnessIn research circles the debate is settled. Psychiatric illnesses are disorders rooted in biology. As convincing as the evidence is, mysteries still fog our understanding of mental illnesses. Yes, the disorders stem from problems in the brain, but "on the other hand, for time and ages people have been looking at brains under the microscope, and they don't see much," says Schahram Akbarian, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. No lesions, malformations, scars or other outward signs distinguish a mentally ill brain from a healthy one. More... © Society for Science & the Public 2000 - 2008 All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries fr... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446401 Fri, 16 May 2008 08:40:00 +0100 1446401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432548&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F286339795%2F Researchers have found marked genetic differences between brains of men who committed suicide and the brains of men who did not. Of those individuals studied, all had been victims of child abuse. Even though the genetic sequence was the same in the suicide and non-suicide brains, researchers at the McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, led by Moshe Szyfa, discovered that epigenetic markings were different. That is, the researchers noted a chemical coating on genes that was influenced by environmental factors. In this unique study, the DNA of male suicide victims from Quebec was analysed. The 13 people who committed suicide all had been victims of child abuse. “It’s possible the changes in epigenetic markers were caused by the exposure to childhood abuse, although in humans it&#... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432548 Thu, 08 May 2008 20:54:43 +0100 1432548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1426708&cid=t_141639_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fstudies_begin_to_unravel_the_link_between_genes_environment.htm Epigenetics - the examination of how environmental factors like diet, stress, and post-natal maternal behavior can change gene function without altering DNA sequence - plays a major role in depression and in the actions of antidepressant medications. New studies in the field are revealing new molecular targets for better therapies for depression, scientists say. They spoke at a press conference today following a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-sponsored symposium on epigenetics during the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Washington DC. "The mechanisms that precipitate depression, such as stress, are incompletely understood," says Eric Nestler, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and organizer of the symposium. "One mystery... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1426708 Wed, 07 May 2008 09:18:00 +0100 1426708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1080378&cid=t_141639_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2F197144629%2F One of the postdocs here in the Skinner lab, Dr. Ramji Bhandari, has started a blog related to his area of expertise, Sex Determination Research. Ramji is new to blogging and decided to get his feet wet with a number of relevent abstracts, which will be a nice resource for those interested in sex determination. Cautious forays into open science continue. Dr. Rosie Redfield of the University of British Columbia is a vocal supporter, and recently explained her philosophy in blogging about her current experiments and encouraging her lab members to do the same. Also, Pedro Beltrao is testing the use of Google Code as a management system for conducting an open science experiment involving domain family expansion. The Pump Handle, a blog that provides editorials and commentary on emerging trends... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1080378 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:00:47 +0100 1080378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1062892&cid=t_141639_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomensbioethics.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fintergenerational-ptsd-epigenetics-may.html (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1062892 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:40:00 +0100 1062892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814389&cid=t_141639_107_f&fid=36045&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbayblab.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fhistone-code-cracked.html This report in Nature presents genome-wide CHIP maps of a variety of histone modifications in a few types of embryonic and stem cell lineages. Seems like they found some very interesting signatures that correlated well with gene expression status. For example, trimethylation at lysines 4 and 27 could discriminate expressed versus inducible versus repressed genes, whereas the same modification at lysines 4 and 9 marks imprinted regions. Very cool. Of course we'll have to see what the AC has to say for the expert opinion.I once proposed a similar project in a mock post-doc grant proposal for a systems biology grad class I took (except with the added minor step of cloning mice by somatic cell nuclear transfer). It got pretty bad reviews. Apparently some people thought it was too ambitious. Go... Bayblab blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814389 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:52:00 +0100 814389