11.06.06
Discover Magazine Highlights Epigenetics
The November issue of Discover Magazine features the cover story “DNA Is Not Destiny,” by Ethan Watters, highlighting some of the most provocative discoveries in epigenetics over the past several years and what they may mean to human health and development.
For instance, the article highlights the research of Duke University radiation oncologist Randy Jirtle and former postdoctoral student Robert Waterland, who showed that nutritional changes to an agouti female mouse can alter the phenotype of her offspring through an alteration in DNA methylation (1).
Other researchers highlighted include Moshe Szyf and Michael Meaney of McGill University, Emma Whitelaw of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Ming Zhu Fang of Rutgers University, Michael Skinner of Washington State University, and Marcus Pembrey of the Institute of Child Health in London.
Hopefully, the article will provide an informative overview of the exciting field of epigenetics to scientists, students, and the general public.
1. Waterland RA, Jirtle RL. Transposable elements: targets for early nutritional effects on epigenetic gene regulation. Mol Cell Biol. 2003;15;5293-300.
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