High-Throughput Analysis of Gene Regulation, DNA Synthesis in CSH Protocols
02/01/2010
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Feb. 1, 2010) – Mapping DNase I hypersensitive sites has long been the standard method for identifying genetic regulatory elements such as promoters, enhancers, silencers, insulators, and locus control regions.

Cellular Communication in the Cancer Microenvironment
01/15/2010
In the February 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Johanna Joyce and colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center lend new insight into the mechanism by which tumor-associated macrophages promote malignant progression.

New edition of popular lab manual presents latest techniques for probing cellular dynamics
01/15/2010
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Jan. 15, 2009) – In recent years, substantial advances have been made in microscopy techniques, enabling biologists to understand the details of cellular structure and dynamics at a level never before possible.

Novel Mouse Model of Demyelinating Disorder
01/14/2010
In the February 1st issue of &D, Dr. Brian Popko (The University of Chicago) and colleagues describe how mutation of a gene called ZFP191 leads to disordered CNS myelination in mice -- reminiscent of what is seen in human multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

New handbook for biologists who need more competence or confidence in statistics
01/05/2010
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Jan. 5, 2010) – New technologies such as microarrays, next-generation sequencing, and proteomics have dramatically increased the need for quantitative reasoning among biologists when designing experiments and interpreting results. Even the most routine informatics tools rely on statistical assumptions and methods that need to be appreciated if the scientific results are to be correct, understood, and exploited fully.

Analysis of microbes, immune response featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
01/04/2010
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Jan. 4, 2010) – Metagenomics, the study of DNA isolated from samples of naturally occurring microbial populations, is rapidly growing. Improvements to cloning and sequencing techniques are allowing researchers to study microorganisms in environmental samples, and new knowledge of species interactions and community dynamics is emerging.

Genomes of identical twins reveal epigenetic changes that may play role in lupus
12/22/2009
December 22, 2009 – Identical twins look the same and are nearly genetically identical, but environmental factors and the resulting cellular changes could cause disease in one sibling and not the other.

New source of classical techniques for blood-based studies in the laboratory mouse
12/15/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Dec. 15, 2009) - The mouse is a standard laboratory model organism, but there are currently few resources that describe conventional techniques to analyze blood and blood-forming tissues in this species. A newly released set of compact and easy-to-use laboratory resources from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press fills this gap.

Live Cell Imaging Comes into Focus in the December Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
12/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., Dec. 1, 2009) - Live cell imaging techniques are driving a revolution in biological research. Instead of viewing dead tissues and cells fixed at a particular stage of activity, scientists can now visualize dynamic changes as they happen, permitting a better understanding of biological processes.

Genomes of biofuel yeasts reveal clues that could boost fuel ethanol production worldwide
11/06/2009
As global temperatures and energy costs continue to soar, renewable sources of energy will be key to a sustainable future. An attractive replacement for gasoline is biofuel, and in two studies published online in Genome Research (www.genome.org), scientists have analyzed the genome structures of bioethanol-producing microorganisms, uncovering genetic clues that will be critical in developing new technologies needed to implement production on a global scale.

High-throughput genotyping, protein purification featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
11/02/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Nov. 2, 2009) – The introduction of high-throughput laboratory methods has greatly increased the pace of research into the genetics of complex diseases.

MicroRNA-Mediated Metastasis Suppression
10/29/2009
Metastases are responsible for over 90% of cancer deaths. In the upcoming issue of G&D, Dr. Robert Weinberg (MIT) and colleagues lend molecular insight into how micro-RNAs suppress tumor metastasis.

Archive of renowned monograph series in molecular and cellular biology is released online
10/29/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Oct. 29, 2009) - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press has just released the Cold Spring Harbor Monograph Archive, a complete online collection of its prestigious scholarly monographs.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features RNA analysis methods
10/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Thursday, October 1, 2009) - The study of RNA has long been the tool of choice for understanding where and when genes are expressed in a cell, tissue, or organism during development or under specific physiological or environmental conditions. Recent discoveries have revolutionized our concept of RNA function; it is now known to be active in a much wider set of biological processes than was previously believed. Techniques for isolating RNA and for uncovering its interactions with proteins have taken on new importance as many laboratories define the roles of specific RNAs in the cell.

New book offers practical advice for unraveling the genetics of complex human diseases
09/14/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Sept. 14, 2009) - Many human diseases -- including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease -- are caused by multiple genetic variants and the interaction of those variants with the environment.

Discovery of novel genes could unlock mystery of what makes us uniquely human
09/02/2009
September 2, 2009 - Humans and chimpanzees are genetically very similar, yet it is not difficult to identify the many ways in which we are clearly distinct from chimps.

ChIP and vector recombineering methods featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
09/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., Sept. 1, 2009)- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is an invaluable method for studying the interactions between proteins and DNA on a genome-wide scale. ChIP can be used to determine whether a transcription factor interacts with a candidate target gene, and is used to monitor the presence of histones with posttranslational modifications at specific genomic locations. The results are often extremely useful for investigating the functions of specific transcription factors or histone modifications.

Genome Research publishes special issue: Personal Genomes and Variation
09/01/2009
September 1, 2009 - The September 2009 issue of Genome Research entitled "Personal Genomes and Variation" is a special issue dedicated to the burgeoning field of personal genomics.

Magnetic microbe genome attracting attention for biotech research
08/12/2009
August 12, 2009 - The smallest organisms to use a biological compass are magnetotactic bacteria, however mysteries remain about exactly how these bacteria create their cellular magnets.

Methods for gene transfer in stem cells featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
08/05/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wed., Aug. 5, 2009)- Vectors derived from retroviruses are useful tools for long-term gene transfer, because they allow stable integration of transgenes and propagation into daughter cells. Lentiviral vectors are preferred because they can transduce non-proliferating cellular targets. These vectors can be engineered to target specific tissues.

New Insight into Human Ciliopathy
08/03/2009
In the September 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Karen Oegema (UCSD) and colleagues identify the molecular basis of the lethal developmental disorder, hydrolethalus syndrome, and reveal that hydrolethalus syndrome actually belongs to the emerging class of human ciliopathy diseases.

New online publication for the molecular life sciences
07/15/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (July 16, 2009) – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press today launched a new monthly publication, Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, that provides comprehensive, systematically structured surveys of research in exciting areas of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, developmental biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, and molecular pathology.

Microbial analysis, micropatterning methods featured in CSH Protocols
07/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wednesday, July 1, 2009) - Microbial populations have traditionally been studied in carefully controlled, laboratory-grown cultures. New metagenomic approaches are being developed to study these organisms in environmental or medical samples.

Novel epigenetic markers of melanoma may herald new treatments for patients
06/29/2009
June 29, 2009 - Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, diagnosed in more than 50,000 new patients in the United States annually. While the rate of incidences continues to rise, survival rate has not improved and the race is on to find the genetic and cellular changes driving melanoma and to devise new means of detection and treatment.

Mobile DNA elements in woolly mammoth genome give new clues to mammalian evolution
06/09/2009
June 9, 2009 - The woolly mammoth died out several thousand years ago, but the genetic material they left behind is yielding new clues about the evolution of mammals.

New interdisciplinary volume focuses on advances in stem cell research
06/04/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (June 4, 2009) – In a variety of organisms, from zebrafish to fruit flies to humans, stem cells have the potential to differentiate into a variety of tissues—and, in some cases, to give rise to a complete new organism. Stem cell research, therefore, has attracted the attention of a range of biologists—reproductive biologists, cancer biologists, cell and developmental biologists, and others—who have all recognized its importance and therapeutic potential.

ChIP-Seq, Drosophila targeted mutagenesis featured in CSH Protocols
06/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Monday, June 1, 2009)- High-throughput whole-genome analysis is becoming a standard laboratory approach for investigating cellular processes. Next-generation sequencing is replacing microarrays as the technique of choice for genome-scale analysis, because it offers advantages in both sensitivity and scale.

Winners of the Genome Research poster competition at The Biology of Genomes meeting are announced.
05/21/2009
Congratulations to Grand Prize winner, Dr. Loyal Goff, who was awarded $500 and a one year personal subscription to Genome Research for his outstanding poster presentation and to Second Prize winner, Dr. Richard Green, who won $250 and a one year personal subscription to Genome Research for his outstanding poster presentation.

Role for CISD2 Gene in Human Disease and Lifespan Control
05/15/2009
In the May 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Ting-Fen Tsai (The National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan) and colleagues present a new animal model of human Wolfram Syndrome, and effectively link CISD2 gene function, mitochondrial integrity and aging in mammals.

New book summarizes current knowledge on the biology of the vertebrate skeleton
05/05/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (May 5, 2009) – The cells, tissues, and organs that compose the skeletal system provide a supportive yet flexible framework that allows vertebrates to withstand earth’s gravity yet remain mobile. Current knowledge about the vertebrate skeleton, especially recent research on skeletal development from embryo to adult, is summarized in a new monograph, The Skeletal System.

New paradigm identifies gene responsible for acetaminophen-induced liver injury
05/05/2009
May 5, 2009 - Acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics) is one of the most commonly used over-the-counter drugs in the United States. While generally safe, acetaminophen is known to cause severe liver injury if taken in high doses. But likely due to genetics, even the recommended dose can induce serious liver damage in a significant number of people.

Genome Research publishes special issue: Genomics and Darwinism
05/01/2009
May 1, 2009 - The May 2009 issue of Genome Research (www.genome.org) is a special issue celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. Published online and in print today, the issue features a collection of perspective reviews and primary research in comparative genomics, genome evolution, and population genomics.

Protein analysis methods, viral vectors featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
05/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Friday, May 1, 2009) – Many proteins do not function by themselves as stand-alone units. Instead, multiple proteins associate to form larger structures called protein complexes.

New book, Untangling the Double Helix, explores enzymes responsible for maintaining genome integrity
04/15/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Apr. 15, 2009) – If it were not for a group of enzymes called topoisomerases, DNA would become a knotted, coiled, dysfunctional mess inside of a cell as it gets twisted, rolled, unzipped, and pulled by the cellular machinery that reads and copies its sequence. Topoisomerases, which are responsible for relieving this tension and maintaining the integrity of the genome, were first discovered in the 1970s by Harvard’s Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology James C. Wang.

Selected personal letters of Max Perutz are released in new book
04/09/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Apr. 9, 2009) – Nobel Prize-winning scientist Max Perutz was a campaigner for humanitarian causes, essayist, and advocate of science. A compilation of his personal letters has just been released by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Selected and edited by his daughter Vivien Perutz, the letters in the book What a Time I am Having: Selected Letters of Max Perutz chronicle his adventurous life through his own vivid, erudite, and humorous pen.

Basic guides to PCR, labeling neurons featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
04/01/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wednesday, April 1, 2009) – Along with new cutting-edge methods, Cold Spring Harbor Protocols is home to an in-depth library of basic laboratory methods.

Lice genomes: Pieces of a new puzzle
03/31/2009
March 31, 2009 - Parents and school nurses take note. Lice are a familiar nuisance around the world and vectors of serious diseases, such as epidemic typhus, in developing regions. New research indicates that lice may actually be quite unique in the animal world.

The Autophagy-Cancer Connection
03/11/2009
In an upcoming G&D paper, Dr. Masashi Narita (Cancer Research UK) and colleagues functionally link autophagy and cellular senescence. Using a model of oncogenic ras-induced senescence, the authors show that senescence activates autophagy in human fibroblast cells.

Protein function and chromatin structure methods featured in Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
03/03/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., March 3, 2009) – Two new methods for analyzing the roles played by proteins in cells are featured in the March issue of CSH Protocols.

Ex vivo Neural Stem Cell Expansion
02/28/2009
In the March 1 issue of G&D, Dr. Christopher Fasano (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and colleagues lend new mechanistic insight into the effective generation of neural stem cells outside of the neurogenic niche.

A little bit of spit reveals a lot about what lives in your mouth
02/27/2009
February 27, 2009 - Like it or not, your mouth is home to a thriving community of microbial life. More than 600 different species of bacteria reside in this "microbiome," yet everyone hosts a unique set of bugs, and this could have important implications for health and disease.

Managing microRNAs
02/25/2009
Two independent, upcoming G&D papers lend new insight into the expression of microRNAs and their targets during vertebrate development. Dr. David Bartel and colleagues describe a novel experimental system for genome-wide quantitative analysis of miRNA target expression in miRNA-expressing cells.

Camouflaging of viral DNA could be crucial step in progression of cancers
02/10/2009
February 10, 2009 - An estimated 15% of cancer cases can be linked to a viral infection, however the biological changes that cause some asymptomatic carriers of a virus to develop full-blown tumors are not well understood.

Mosquito genes linked to insecticide resistance may be new target in fight against malaria
02/05/2009
February 5, 2009 - Malaria remains one of the most serious diseases worldwide, claiming the lives of more than one million people per year in tropical and sub-tropical regions, the majority of whom are children under five years of age. Efforts to eliminate this mosquito-borne illness rely heavily on prevention measures, but there are growing concerns about resistance to insecticides.

CSH Protocols features stem cell differentiation, plant RNAi methods
02/02/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Monday, February 2, 2009) –By using OP9-DL1 cells as a support system, researchers can study the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into mature components of the immune system. This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc2_09.dtl) features a set of methods from Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker’s laboratory at the University of Toronto (http://www.immunology.utoronto.ca/faculty/directory/zunigapflucker.htm) detailing The OP9-DL1 System: Generation of T-Lymphocytes from Embryonic or Hematopoietic Stem Cells In Vitro.

Museomics yields new insights into extinct Tasmanian Tiger
01/13/2009
January 13, 2009 - In 1902, the National Zoo in Washington D.C. arranged to have a unique and endangered animal called the thylacine, or Tasmanian Tiger, brought to the United States from Tasmania. Later that year, a female and her three cubs arrived at the zoo. However, by the mid-1930s, the thylacine was extinct, leaving behind only preserved museum specimens.

Methods for studying DNA repair and protein modification are featured in CSH Protocols
01/05/2009
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Jan. 5, 2009) – This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc1_09.dtl) features two articles detailing experimental methods for the analysis of molecular processes involved in DNA repair and post-translational modification of proteins.

New edition of laboratory manual includes cutting-edge techniques to study gene regulation
12/19/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Dec. 19, 2008) – With the growing availability of genome sequence data for a variety of organisms, many scientists are now focusing on factors that govern the expression of individual genes—an important field of molecular biology known as transcriptional regulation. A new edition of a popular laboratory manual on transcriptional regulation has just been published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

New manual presents robust, state-of-the-art proteomics methods for teaching and research
12/18/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Dec. 18, 2008) – “Life happens at the level of proteins . . . They build, process, activate, and inactivate; they polymerize, repair, support, modify, degrade, fold, migrate, and transport; they shorten, signal, cleave, inhibit, digest, fluoresce, induce, excise, carry, and repress; they bind, transfer, translocate, amplify, proofread, regulate, and perform countless more activities.”

Viral DNA in bacterial genome could hold key to novel cystic fibrosis treatments
12/02/2008
December 2, 2008 – The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well known for its environmental versatility, ability to cause infection in humans, and its capacity to resist antibiotics. P. aeruginosa is the most common cause of persistent and fatal lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. In a study published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org), researchers have used genomic techniques to study a particularly virulent strain of P. aeruginosa, uncovering genetic clues to its success that will aid in the design of novel therapeutic strategies.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features tissue culture methods for immune cells and neurons
12/02/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., Dec. 2, 2008) –The complexity of vital organ systems makes them difficult to study in living organisms. Tissue culture methods for specific cell types allow researchers to break these systems down into component parts that can be readily manipulated and observed. This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc12_08.dtl) features two articles detailing experimental culture methods for cells from the immune system and the nervous system.

New Molecular Insight into Vertebrate Brain Development
12/01/2008
In the December 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Fred H. Gage (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies) and colleagues reveal a role for the Hippo signaling pathway in the regulation of vertebrate neural development, identifying new factors - and potential therapeutic targets - that may be involved in congenital brain size disorders and neurological tumor formation.

A new world of research possibilities with Emerging Model Organisms
11/21/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Nov. 21, 2008) — How can moss help us to treat Alzheimer’s disease? What can the lamprey immune system tell us about evolution? Can genetic studies of snapdragon populations help with efforts to conserve rare species? What can quail teach us about human aging, reproduction, and hereditary diseases? Will studies of choanoflagellates unravel the origins of animals?

Genetics of Aging and Cancer Resistance
11/15/2008
In the November 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Kenneth Dorshkind and colleagues at the David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) have identified two genes - p16(Ink4a) and Arf - that sensitize lymphoid progenitor cells to the effects of aging, and confer resistance to leukemogenesis.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features organ and cell culture methods
11/03/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Nov. 3, 2008) – Understanding the function of organs like the brain, kidney and reproductive tissues requires experimental systems that allow for the study and manipulation of developing cells and tissues in the laboratory.

Scientist, academic publisher release romantic thriller set in world of biomedical science
10/14/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2008)—It's a scene anyone who knows the intense, intimate world of biomedical research will recognize. Andy—diffident, driven, and close to a cancer discovery—glimpses a woman late at night in the window of a neighboring lab. Despite himself, he's interested.

New lab manual focuses on essential methods for purifying and characterizing proteins
10/07/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Oct. 7, 2008) – A new, user-friendly laboratory manual for protein purification and analysis has just been released by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Designed for routine, day-to-day use in the laboratory, it includes essential step-wise protocols as well as background information, recommended experimental strategies, and troubleshooting advice on the most fundamental protein-related methods used by scientists at all levels.

Use it or lose it? Researchers investigate the dispensability of our DNA
10/02/2008
October 2, 2008 - Our genome contains many genes encoding proteins that are similar to those of other organisms, suggesting evolutionary relationships; however, protein-coding genes account for only a small fraction the genome, and there are many other DNA sequences that are conserved across species. What are these sequences doing, and do we really need them at all?

Emerging Model Organisms featured in CSH Protocols
10/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wednesday, October 1, 2008) – Biological research has long relied on a small number of model organisms, species chosen because they are amenable to laboratory research and suitable for the study of a range of biological problems. However, the variety of organisms studied is currently undergoing a massive expansion,...

Brewing better beer: Scientists determine the genomic origins of lager yeasts
09/11/2008
September 11, 2008 – Yeast, the essential microorganism for fermentation in the brewing of beer, converts carbohydrates into alcohol and other products that influence appearance, aroma, and taste. In a study published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org), researchers have identified the genomic origins of the lager yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus, which could help brewers to better control the brewing process.

Interdisciplinary volume on biological rhythms serves as both primer and in-depth resource
09/04/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Sept. 4, 2008) – A variety of organisms—from bacteria and fungi to plants and animals—have biological rhythms, where the timing and duration of fundamental biological processes is naturally adjusted to allow them to adapt and survive, even under fluctuating environmental conditions.

Human stem cell methods featured in CSH Protocols
09/02/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tuesday, September 2, 2008) – The use of human embryonic stem cells is opening new avenues for research, from the understanding of normal human development to the treatment of a wide variety of diseases.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights gene silencing, cancer cell biology methods
08/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – Combining the specificity of small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing with the versatility of lentiviral vectors gives researchers a powerful tool for the investigation of gene function both in vivo and in vitro. This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols ( www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc8_08.dtl ) features a pair of protocols from Inder Verma (http://www.salk.edu/faculty/faculty_details.php?id=54) and colleagues at the Salk Institute describing this method for achieving long-term down-regulation of specific target genes in a wide range of cell types.

Nucleostemin, Serotonin and Insulin Signaling: Controlling Drosophila Growth
07/14/2008
In the July 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Matthew Scott and colleagues at Stanford University School of Medicine reveal that a protein called Nucleostemin 3 links the serotonin and insulin signaling pathways in the control of Drosophila body size.

Scientists identify genetic basis for the black sheep of the family
07/11/2008
July 11, 2008 – Coat color of wild and domestic animals is a critical trait that has significant biological and economic impact. In a study published online in Genome Research (www.genome.org), researchers have identified the genetic basis for black coat color, and white, in a breed of domestic sheep.

Significant Impact Factor Boost for Scientific Journal Genome Research
07/07/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (July 7, 2008) – Earlier this month, ThomsonReuters released the 2007 Journal Citation Reports, which includes impact factors for the world’s most important scholarly journals. The scientific journal Genome Research, published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, was reported with an impact factor of 11.224, a considerable gain over 10.256 in 2006.

HapMap browsing and DDDP methods for genetic analysis featured in CSH Protocols
07/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tuesday, July 1, 2008) –To aid in the study of genetic diseases, scientists with the International Haplotype Map Project have developed a haplotype map of the human genome, a tool that displays common patterns of genetic variation. While data from the project are available for unrestricted public use from the project’s website (www.hapmap.org), the new tools needed to browse the map can be difficult to master for the beginner.

New Molecular Insight into Amboebic Dysentery
06/14/2008
In the June 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Sinisa Urban (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) and colleagues reveal a potential role for the rhomboid enzyme, EhROM1, in the pathogenesis of the enteric protozoan parasite, E. histolytica. This discovery posits EhROM1 as a prospective target in the treatment of amoebic dysentery, which affects 1/10th of the global population (~500 million people) and represents the second most common disease in the world.

A “Field Guide” to the Landscape of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
06/09/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (June 9, 2008) – For decades, the beautiful grounds of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), a world-renowned research institution located on the banks of Long Island Sound, have long impressed its many visitors. A new book, Grounds for Knowledge, is an attractive guide to CSHL’s mix of historic and modern buildings and the striking landscape that surrounds them.

Watson-inspired innovation in research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
06/09/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (June 9, 2008) – The appointment of James Watson as Director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1968 set off an explosive development of research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), as he recruited widely and wisely teams of investigators with diverse scientific interests. In a new book, Life Illuminated, essays by the scientists involved tell the stories of research carried out during Watson’s directorship. In addition, 34 research papers published during that golden period in CSHL’s history are presented in full on an accompanying CD.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features methods for analyzing genomes and plant cells
06/02/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Monday, June 2, 2008) – With the sequencing of the human genome came the startling revelation that the number of copies of a genes and other DNA sequences can vary widely between individuals. This Copy Number Variation (or CNV), contributes to our species’ genetic diversity but it has also been linked to genetic diseases.

Genetics of ALS Progression
06/01/2008
An upcoming paper from Drs. Hidenori Ichijo and Hideki Nishitoh (The University of Tokyo) and colleagues lends new and valuable insight into the genetics of ALS.

Metagenomics of skin reveals insights into the human microbiome
05/23/2008
Friday, May 23, 2008 – The human body is home to a diverse range of microorganisms, estimated to outnumber human cells in a healthy adult by ten fold. The importance of characterizing human microbiota for understanding health and disease is highlighted by the recent launch of the Human Microbiome Project by the National Institutes of Health.

Effect of Mutant p53 Stability on Tumorigenesis and Drug Design
05/14/2008
In the May 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Guillermina Lozano (MD Anderson Cancer Center) and colleagues reveal how the stabilization of a mutated form of p53 affects oncogenesis, and lends startling new insight into the potential pitfalls of using Mdm2 inhibitors for cancer therapy.

Watching the Clock: Generating cyanobacterial circadian rhythm
05/12/2008
In the June 1 issue of G&D, Dr. Takao Kondo and colleagues (Nagoya University) reveal that the clock protein KaiC is the primary pacemaker for the cyanobacterial circadian clock, but not in the manner previously thought.

The FAQs about the human genome
05/08/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y.– How many genes are in the human genome? Which genes are commonly associated with genetic diseases? How many mobile elements, simple sequence repeats, or protein kinases are encoded by the genome? What are the largest genes and proteins? How similar are human proteins to those of mouse, yeast, or bacteria?

Platypus genome unravels mysteries of mammalian evolution
05/07/2008
Genome Research is publishing several papers related to analyses of the duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) genome sequence. The place of (egg-laying) monotremes, such as the platypus, in mammalian evolutionary history has remained controversial. Now, researchers are finding that the distinctive anatomical and physiological properties of the platypus are reflected in the newly sequenced platypus genome. Through comparative genomics, the platypus genome is providing remarkable insights into the evolution of venom components, the sex-determination system, testicular descent, and small RNA pathways. Primary research reports describing these novel insights will appear online May 8, concurrent with publication of the platypus genome sequence report in the journal Nature.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features classic approaches for analyzing chromosomes
05/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Thursday, May 1, 2008) – Recent discoveries have led to a revolution in the field of epigenetics, the study of gene regulation through the modulation of chromatin. These newly elaborated principles have brought the study of chromosomes and chromatin structure to the forefront of genetic research.

Regulating Hematopoietic Stem Cell Homeostasis and Leukemogenesis
04/14/2008
In the April 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Richard Flavell (Yale University) and colleagues identify the c-Cbl protein as a critical repressor of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal. In addition to establishing a key role for protein ubiquitylation in HSC development, this finding posits c-Cbl as a potential target in research into stem cell engineering as well as cell-based leukemia treatments.

Molecular Basis for Neurodegeneration in Ataxia telangiectasia
04/14/2008
An upcoming paper from Dr. David Wassarman (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health) in the May 1 issue of G&D lends new insight into the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in Ataxia telangiectasia.

Scientists develop strategy to rapidly describe outbreak strains with next-generation DNA sequencing
04/11/2008
Friday, April 11, 2008 – In the event of an outbreak or a bioterrorist attack, rapid identification of the genetic changes responsible for virulence or drug resistance is essential to mounting an effective response. Standard DNA sequencing and analysis of a pathogen genome is time-intensive and likely impractical during an emergency. Researchers have now developed a comparative genomics strategy to drastically reduce the time needed to accurately identify unique genetic properties of a potential outbreak strain.

The story of Max Perutz, a pioneering biologist with a remarkable passion for life
04/09/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – Max Perutz, a pioneer in the field of protein crystallography and a Nobel laureate, was one of the first to study the molecular structures of proteins. His life story, wonderfully told by Georgina Ferry, was recently published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Reflecting on the social implications of human genetics research—past, present, and future
04/07/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – In 1911, the influential geneticist Charles Davenport published Heredity in Relation to Eugenics, advancing his ideas of how genetics would improve society in the 20th century. It became a college textbook and a foundation for the widespread eugenics movement in the United States. Although the eugenic ideals of the early part of the 20th century have long been rejected, many of the issues raised by Davenport are still being debated nearly 100 years later.

A call to infuse scientific knowledge into the human experience
04/03/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – In a provocative new book, distinguished geneticist and historian Elof Axel Carlson argues for a more scientific view of human nature, one that is based on our biology—our cellular organization, genetics, life cycle, and evolution.

Scientists reshape Y chromosome haplogroup tree gaining new insights into human ancestry
04/02/2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 – The Y chromosome retains a remarkable record of human ancestry, since it is passed directly from father to son. In an article published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org), scientists have utilized recently described genetic variations on the part of the Y chromosome that does not undergo recombination to significantly update and refine the Y chromosome haplogroup tree.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features methods to screen genomes and analyze evolution
04/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tuesday, April 1, 2008) – Identifying genes that are important in specific tissues or processes in the mouse used to be a monumental task. New technologies and strategies have simplified this search, making it effective for even the smallest laboratories.

MicroRNAs, EMT and Cancer Progression
03/31/2008
In the April 1 issue of G&D, a research team led by Dr. Marcus Peter (University of Chicago) identifies the microRNA miR-200 as both a powerful indicator and regulator of the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells.

Cutting edge computational molecular biology research featured in Genome Research
03/18/2008
Genome Research is publishing several papers in coordination with the Research in Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB) 2008 Conference, March 30, 2008 – April 2, 2008, at the National University of Singapore. Genome Research has partnered with RECOMB to publish a select number of high-quality contributions to the meeting, presenting the latest theoretical advances in computational biology and their applications in molecular biology and medicine. The papers will appear online Wednesday, March 19, 2008, and in print as a special section of the Genome Research April 2008 issue.

New Insight into the Genetics of Brain Tumor Formation
03/17/2008
In a G&D paper published online ahead of its April 1 print publication date, Dr. William Kaelin (Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and colleagues identify a potential new neuronal tumor suppressor.

Role for MicroRNAs in Limb Regeneration
03/14/2008
In the March 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Kenneth Poss (Duke University Medical Center) and colleagues reveal that microRNA depletion is a necessary step in tissue regeneration – a discovery with interesting implications for their use in regenerative medicine.

Growing old together: Yeast, worms, and people may age by similar mechanisms
03/13/2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008 – A study published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org) provides new insight into the evolutionary conservation of the genes and pathways associated with aging. This report describes the identification of conserved aging-related genes in simple model organisms that may lead to the characterization of similar genes playing a role in human aging and age-associated diseases.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features high-throughput methods for analyzing gene activity
03/03/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., March 3, 2008) – New high-throughput methods are revolutionizing our understanding of transcriptional regulation. This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc3_08.dtl) highlights two methods for analyzing the switches that turn genes on and off. Both methods are freely accessible on the Web site for Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org).

Cancer theory stands the test of time – rediscovering Boveri a century later
02/29/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – Rarely has a book in the biological sciences proved as prescient as Theodor Boveri’s 1914 monograph Concerning the Origin of Malignant Tumours. Out of print for decades and previously almost impossible to track down, the book is now available as a new and authoritative translation, co-published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press and The Company of Biologists.

Tailoring Glioblastoma Therapies: One size does not fit all
02/07/2008
An upcoming G&D paper from Dr. Azad Bonni and colleagues at Harvard Medical School lends new insight into how the unique genetic signature of glioblastoma tumors affects treatment efficacy - a finding with promising hope for the therapeutic targeting of the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the young and middle-aged population.

Researchers identify a worldwide-distributed clone of bacteria responsible for Legionnaire’s disease
02/07/2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 – A study published online today in Genome Research ( www.genome.org ) describes new insights into Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria responsible for most cases of Legionnaires’ disease. This report investigates the genetic background of L. pneumophila, provides clues to the evolution and emergence of this pathogen, and describes the identification of a worldwide-distributed epidemic clone.

RNA-based methods for developmental studies are featured in CSH Protocols
02/01/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Fri., Feb. 1, 2008) – This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org/TOCs/toc2_08.dtl) highlights two methods to understand developmental processes in plants and flies. Both methods involve work with RNA and are freely accessible on the Web site for Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org).

In vivo Visualization of Alternative Splicing
01/28/2008
The February 1 cover of G&D features an unprecedented use of fluorescent proteins to visualize developmentally regulated alternative mRNA splicing in a living organism.

Molecular Evolution of Limb Length
01/15/2008
In the January 15th issue of G&D, a research team led by Dr. Richard Behringer at MD Anderson Cancer Center reports that they have successfully switched the mouse Prx1 gene regulatory element with the Prx1 gene regulatory region from a bat – and although these two species are separated by millions of years of evolution -- the resulting transgenic mice displayed abnormally long forelimbs.

CSH Protocols features methods for visualizing protein dynamics
01/02/2008
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wed., Jan. 2, 2008) – This month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights methods that permit scientists to observe protein dynamics in chromosomes and embryos.

Making Sense of Antisense microRNAs
01/01/2008
Three independent papers in the January 1st issue of G&D report on the discovery of a bidirectionally transcribed microRNA (miRNA) locus in Drosophila.

Link Uncovered Between Variation in Humans with Extreme Body Mass and Abnormal Splicing
12/21/2007
Today researchers report new insights into how genetic variation may create phenotypic differences between individuals.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features innovative methods for embryology research
12/03/2007
Two methods that permit scientists to examine critical stages in early embryogenesis are featured in this month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols.

Anti-Aging Skin Care: Reversing skin aging by gene blockade
11/29/2007
In the December 15th cover story of G&D, a research team led by Dr. Howard Chang (Stanford University School of Medicine) reports that the blockage of a single gene, called NF-kB, can reverse aging in the mammalian skin. This finding sets the stage for the development of future genetic age-intervention therapies.

Genetics of Hunger and Sleep
11/15/2007
In the November 15th issue of G&D, Drs. Devanjan Sikder and Thomas Kodadek (UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas) identify that the protein HIF-1 mediates the regulatory effects of the neurotransmitters Orexin A and B on appetite and wakefulness.

Human RecQ Helicases, Homologous Recombination and Genomic Instability
11/14/2007
Two independent papers in the December 1st issue of G&D detail how human RecQ helicases regulate homologous recombination and protect genome stability.

Fly Genome Tip Sheet
11/07/2007
TIP SHEET: Highlights from papers related to the comparative analysis of twelve Drosophila genomes in Genome Research

Regulation of TATA-less Promoters
11/05/2007
In their upcoming G&D paper, Dr. Robert Tjian (UC Berkeley) and colleagues reveal how histone gene expression is differentially regulated during Drosophila development. The researchers demonstrate that different basal transcription factors drive expression of the histone gene cluster, lending new insight into the regulation of metazoan transcription.

Domestic Cat Genome Sequenced
11/01/2007
A report that appears in the scientific journal Genome Research ( www.genome.org ) details the first assembly, annotation, and comparative analysis of the domestic cat genome (Felis catus).

Scientists Discover New Genetic Variant Associated with Prostate Cancer in African Americans
11/01/2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 – Today researchers report a newly identified genetic variation that is linked to higher incidence of prostate cancer in African American men. This study, which emphasizes the importance of characterizing genetic markers associated with prostate cancer in high-risk populations, is published online in Genome Research ( www.genome.org ).

3-D Model of Esophageal Cancer
11/01/2007
In the November 1st issue of G&D, a team of scientists led by Dr. Anil Rustgi (UPENN) presents an innovative new model of esophageal cancer, which holds great promise as an experimental platform to investigate the etiology and possible treatment of this devastating disease.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights a method that captures cell growth and activity.
11/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Thurs., Nov. 1, 2007)– This month’s issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org) features a cutting-edge method that provides a snapshot of growth and activity patterns in mixed populations of cells.

The Genetics of MLL Leukemogenesis
10/16/2007
In the November 1st issue of G&D, Dr. Michael Cleary (Stanford University School of Medicine) and colleagues identify the gene Meis1 as a critical player in the establishment of leukemia stem cells, and the development of MLL leukemia.

Regulating Embryonic Stem Cell Self-Renewal
10/15/2007
In the October 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Huck-Hui Ng and colleagues at the Genome Institute of Singapore identify two genes – called Jmjd1a and Jmjd2c - that regulate self-renewal in embryonic stem cells. This finding will have important ramifications for embryonic stem cell research.

Patterning the Mammalian Brain
10/10/2007
In a paper published online ahead of its October 15th print date, Dr. Aaron DiAntonio (Washington University) and colleagues reveal that Phr1 – the sole mammalian ortholog of the invertebrate ubiquitin ligase genes highwire (in Drosophila) and rpm-1 (in C. elegans) – also plays a crucial role in sculpting the mammalian nervous system, albeit in a distinctly different manner.

The hottest jobs in science, and how to land them
10/03/2007
A new book presents a comprehensive overview of careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.

Brains to Behavior
10/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., Oct. 1, 2007) – Research in the field of neuroscience is constantly expanding to provide knowledge about biological mechanisms that underlie our ability to experience and interact with the world around us. To facilitate such research, two neuroscience methods are featured in this month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols. Both are freely accessible online and include movie clips that help to illustrate the procedures.

Venous Origin of the Mammalian Lymphatic Vasculature
09/30/2007
In the October 1 issue of G&D, Dr. Guillermo Oliver (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital) and colleagues present new evidence to resolve a century-old debate over the origin of the mammalian lymphatic vasculature. Understanding the development of the lymphatic vasculature is integral to understanding its function in both health (mediating immunity and maintaining tissue fluid levels) and disease (lymphedema and spreading tumor metastasis).

Genetics of Imatinib Resistance in ALL
09/15/2007
In the September 15th issue of Genes & Development, Drs. Richard T. Williams, Willem den Besten, and Charles J. Sherr at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis TN, lend new insights into how an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) develops, and how sensitivity to the targeted chemotherapeutic drug, imatinib, can be diminished through interactions between tumor cells and the host microenvironment.

Modeling Skin Cancer
09/04/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., Sept. 4, 2007) – Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of human cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But in order to more fully understand skin cancer in humans, scientists must use model organisms, such as mice, to study the disease in the laboratory.

tDNAs, RNA pol III and chromatid cohesion
09/01/2007
In the September 1st issue of G&D, Drs. Rudra Dubey and Marc Gartenberg (UMDNJ) reveal a surprising new role for tDNAs and RNA polymerase III-associated proteins in sister chromatid cohesion.

Scientists identify novel mode of transcriptional regulation
08/17/2007
In an upcoming issue of G&D, Drs. Maria Divina Deato and Robert Tjian (HHMI, UC Berkeley) reveal that the formation of an alternative transcriptional core promoter complex directs cell-type specific differentiation during myogenesis.

Ago2 and Hematopoiesis
08/15/2007
Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is unique among its family: It is the only one of the four mammalian Argonaute proteins that exhibits endonuclease “slicer” activity (facilitation of miRNA-guided cleavage of target mRNA).

Diabetes Release
08/13/2007
Monday, August 13, 2007 – Today, researchers report for the first time that genetic variants in mitochondria—energy-producing structures harboring DNA that are inherited only from the mother—are directly linked to metabolic markers for type 2 diabetes.

MicroRNA Conflict Resolution
08/01/2007
In the August 1st issue of G&D, a team of Japanese scientists led by Dr. Shigeyuki Yokoyama (RIKEN and the University of Tokyo), presents heretofore the most relevant experimental system of microRNA-mediated translational repression.

Gene Silencing
08/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Wed., Aug. 1, 2007) – Nearly a decade ago, now-Nobel laureates Craig Mello and Andrew Fire discovered that they could insert short RNA molecules into worms and shut down specific genes. Today, scientists routinely use this powerful method, termed RNA interference, to study the functions of specific genes in mammalian systems.

Genomics study
07/31/2007
AURORA, Colo. (Tues., July 31, 2007) – Today, researchers from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, along with colleagues from Stanford University, report the results of a large-scale, genome-wide study to investigate gene copy number differences among ten primate species, including humans. The study provides an overview of genes and gene families that have undergone major copy number expansions and contractions in different primate lineages spanning approximately 60 million years of evolutionary time.

Toxic Milk: Scientists find key protein affecting quality of maternal-infant
07/24/2007
In the August 1 issue of G&D, Dr. Ronald Evans (Salk Institute) and
colleagues report on their discovery that mutations in the mouse gene
encoding PPARg adversely affect lactation milk quality, and have serious
health consequences for nursing pups.

The Flip Side of p27
07/15/2007
In a paper published online ahead of its July 15th print date, Dr. James Roberts (FHCRC) and colleagues reveal a surprising new role for the p27 tumor suppressor in tumors and stem cells.

On Target
07/15/2007
In an upcoming Genes & Development paper, Dr. Christopher Counter and colleagues at the Duke University Medical Center have identified IL6 as a new target in the battle against Ras-induced cancers.

Eigenfactor
07/15/2007
Genes & Development ranked #1 in the field of Developmental Biology according to Eigenfactor.org

Bioinformatics-related methods
07/02/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Mon., July 2, 2007) – Large-scale undertakings such as the Human Genome Project have produced massive amounts of data. To make sense of it all, powerful mathematical and statistical algorithms were developed, resulting in the interdisciplinary field called “bioinformatics.”

Role of Autophagy in Tumorigenesis
07/01/2007
In the upcoming issue of G&D, Dr. Eileen White and colleagues at Rutgers University/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Cancer Institute of New Jersey, report, for the first time, that the cellular self-digesting process of autophagy can protect genome integrity – lending new insight into the seemingly contradictory roles of autophagy as both a cell survival and tumor suppressor pathway.

Regulating Alternative Splicing During Neural Development
07/01/2007
In the July 1st issue of Genes & Development, Dr. Douglas Black (UCLA) and colleagues detail how alternative splicing is reprogrammed during neuronal development.

Endosome-Mediated Signaling in Plants
07/01/2007
In a paper that will be published online in advance of its July 1st publication date, Drs. Niko Geldner, Joanne Chory and colleagues (The Salk Institute and HHMI) demonstrate that endosomes can function as signaling platforms in plants, as well as in animals.

On the Defense
06/15/2007
The innate immune response is the body's first line of defense against pathogen infection. In the June 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Xin Li (University of British Columbia) and colleagues report that three proteins work together in the MOS4-associated complex (MAC) to execute innate immunity in the mustard weed, Arabidopsis.

ENCODE map
06/13/2007
Since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, research efforts have been aimed at analyzing the functions of various sequences in the genome, using both experimental and computational strategies. The June issue of Genome Research (www.genome.org) is devoted to The ENCODE (ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements) Project, whose goal is to characterize all functional elements in the human genome.

Pediatric Cancer Stem Cell Identified
06/01/2007
In a G&D report that will be published online ahead of its June 1 issue date, Dr. Leonard Zon (Children’s Hospital Boston) and colleagues have identified the cancer stem cell for rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood.

Embryos, clones, stem cells
06/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Fri., June 1, 2007) – Cloning, X-chromosome inactivation, stem cells, and embryogenesis are hot areas of research at the moment, and protocols featured in this month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols (www.cshprotocols.org) will aid these studies.

The Yin and the Yang of B-cell Development
05/15/2007
A new paper in the May 15th issue of Genes & Development reveals how a protein called Yin Yang 1 regulates early B cell development.

Unicellular microRNA Discovery
05/15/2007
In the May 15th issue of Genes & Development, an international collaboration of researchers, led by Dr. Yijun Qi (National Institute of Biological Sciences, China), report on their discovery of microRNAs in the unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This is the first finding of microRNAs in a unicellular organism.

Opossum Tip Sheet
05/09/2007
Genome Research is publishing three papers related to the genome of the gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, a small, nocturnal marsupial found in South America.

MicroRNAs as Tumor Suppressors
05/01/2007
In the May 1st issue of Genes & Development, Drs. Yong Sun Lee and Anindya Dutta (UVA) reveal that microRNAs can function as tumor suppressors in vitro.

Methods for labeling DNA and protein molecules with various colorful (and not-so-colorful) tags
05/01/2007
A rainbow of methods promises insights into biological processes and diseases. This month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features freely available methods for marking molecules to identify gene alterations and metabolic shifts.

ATR Checkpoint-Activating DNA Structure
04/15/2007
As published in the April 15th issue of Genes & Development, Dr. Karlene Cimprich and colleagues at Stanford University have determined the minimal DNA structure sufficient to activate the ATR-mediated DNA damage checkpoint.

Reliable methods for gene and protein analyses
04/04/2007
This month’s release of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols highlights methods for creating and detecting specific proteins, as well as for characterizing the activities of specific genes during embryonic development.

New Therapeutic Insight into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
04/01/2007
In the April 1st issue of Genes & Development, Dr. Bruce Spiegelman (Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and colleagues identify a key genetic component of and possible therapeutic target for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Scientists identify a candidate gene for osteoporosis
03/29/2007
LOMA LINDA, Calif. (Thurs., Mar. 29, 2007) – Today, researchers report the identification of a gene that may play a role in susceptibility to osteoporosis—the crippling disease that leads to bone fractures, especially of the hip and spine. The study, conducted by scientists at the Musculoskeletal Diseases Center of the Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center at Loma Linda, shows convincing evidence that a gene called DARC negatively regulates bone density in mice.

Gene Atp5a1 may suppress colorectal cancer
03/22/2007
PHILADELPHIA (Thurs., Mar. 22, 2007) – In today’s online edition of Genome Research, a husband-and-wife research team from Thomas Jefferson University report the discovery of a gene that, when mutated, may suppress colorectal cancer.

Ras signaling and Lung Cancer
03/15/2007
In the March 15th issue of Genes & Development, Dr. Tyler Jacks (MIT) and colleagues lend new insight into the contribution that the ras oncogene makes to developmental disorders and cancer.

Maternal microRNAs
03/15/2007
Two new papers in the March 15th issue of Genes & Development explore the role of microRNAs in early mammalian development. Two independent research groups, led by Dr. Gregory Hannon (CSH Laboratory) and Drs. M. Azim Surani (Wellcome Trust) and Kaiqin Lao (Applied Biosystems), compared cytological characteristics, microRNA profiles and gene expression data between Dicer-deficient and wild-type mouse oocytes.

Fruit Fly Methods
03/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Thurs., Mar. 1, 2007) – For the past century, fruit flies—or Drosophila—have provided innumerable insights into the genetics and biology of development, learning and memory, behavior, vision, and other processes. But for researchers who conduct these studies, the logistics of housing and feeding the hundreds or thousands of flies needed for experiments can be daunting. To address this concern, the current issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols—released online today (www.cshprotocols.org)—includes a series of articles for maintaining and manipulating flies in the laboratory.

New Hope for Regenerative Medicine
02/15/2007
In the February 15th issue of G&D, Dr. K. John McLaughlin and colleagues report on their success in using uniparental embryonic stem cells to replace blood stem cells in mice.

Modeling Lung Cancer
02/15/2007
In a new report in the February 15th issue of G&D, Dr. Martin McMahon (UCSF) and colleagues present a novel mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer, which will serve as a useful tool to test the efficacy of novel chemotherapeutic drug therapies in the early stages of lung tumorigenesis.

Lighting up life
02/01/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Thurs., Feb. 1, 2007) – Just over a decade ago, biologists isolated a unique protein from jellyfish that could be inserted into other organisms—from E. coli to pigs—and cause them to radiate a brilliant green color. This green fluorescent protein (GFP) has allowed biologists to make many new discoveries regarding how living cells function. But one kingdom of life—plants—has presented special challenges to GFP detection: plants harbor tough cell walls and enormous subcellular structures that interfere with visualization, and their natural green pigments can mask the luminescent qualities of GFP.

Screening for Complex Genetic Interactions
01/15/2007
In a report published online ahead of the January 15th print edition, Dr. David Amberg (SUNY Upstate Medical University) and colleagues have developed a large-scale reverse genetic screen to identify complex haploinsufficient interactions in S. cerevisiae.

Imaging techniques permit scientists to follow a day or four in the life of a cell
01/02/2007
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Tues., Jan. 2, 2007) – The movement and growth of cells are critical for normal physiological processes, and—when perturbed—can result in negative outcomes such as tumor formation. Understanding how live cells function is therefore invaluable for molecular and cellular biologists, and advanced techniques to visualize cells in action are of great importance.

New Editor-in Chief in 2007
01/01/2007
BETHESDA, M.D. (Mon., Jan. 1, 2007) -- The Protein Society announces that Brian W. Matthews, Ph.D., will be the new Editor-in-Chief of its academic publication Protein Science, effective January 1, 2007.

Counter Defense Strategy of Virus
12/01/2006
RNA silencing evolved as a means of defense against viral pathogens. In turn, viruses have evolved a counter-defense mechanism to inhibit RNA silencing. In the December 1st issue of G&D, a team of NYC scientists, led by Dr. Nam-Hai Chua at the Rockefeller University, lend new insight into how the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) executes its counter-defense.

Firestorms - Hicks, Wigler
12/01/2006

COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Fri., Dec. 1, 2006) – The first high-resolution analysis of genomic alterations in breast tumors is reported today in the scientific journal Genome Research.

Plants, plasmids and possibilities
12/01/2006
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Fri., Dec. 1, 2006) – Decaffeinated coffee plants, pest-resistant cotton, and Vitamin A-producing rice varieties have all been developed by introducing genes into plants. Scientists also create modified plants to identify and characterize the functions of specific genes. The current issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols—released online today (www.cshprotocols.org)—includes a set of techniques for the creation of transgenic plants.

New technology used to construct the first map of structural variation in the human genome
11/23/2006

Thurs., Nov. 23, 2006 – Beyond the simple stream of one-letter characters in the human genome sequence lies a complex, higher-order code. In order to decipher this level of architecture, scientists have developed powerful new experimental and algorithmic methods to detect copy number variants (CNVs)—defined as large deletions and duplications of DNA segments.

Cells, dyes and videotape: Online scientific methods journal incorporates multimedia
11/03/2006
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. (Fri., Nov. 3, 2006) – Observing the microscopic mysteries of embryos, cells, and chromosomes is feasible with advanced live imaging technologies. In space and time, researchers can follow the fates of embryos, track migrating cells, and watch how molecules signal and interact with each other—all in their native environments. The current issue of CSH Protocols, released online today (www.cshprotocols.org), includes biomedical research techniques that incorporate this ‘cellular cinematography’ and—for the first time—adds multimedia content in the form of movie clips.

Phoenix Rising - Scientists resuscitate a 5 million-year-old retrovirus
10/31/2006
VILLEJUIF, France (Tues., Oct. 31, 2006) – A team of scientists has reconstructed the DNA sequence of a 5-million-year-old retrovirus and shown that it is able to produce infectious particles.

Honey Bee - Beye
10/26/2006
Genome Research has devoted this month’s issue to studies that provide insight into the biology of the honey bee (Apis mellifera).

The Neurobiology of Amnesia
10/03/2006
Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Mon., Oct. 3, 2006—A first kiss, an exotic vacation, a sports team championship, a child’s first words: all are memorable events. But when someone has amnesia, have the memories been completely purged from the brain or are they simply irretrievable? Is amnesia a defect in memory storage, or memory recovery?

CSH Protocols publishes cutting-edge methods for analyzing complex molecular interactions
10/03/2006
Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Tues., Oct. 3, 2006 – With the genomes of hundreds of organisms now catalogued, one of the next major challenges is to identify proteins and their interactions. The current issue of CSH Protocols, published online (www.cshprotocols.org), features two freely available, cutting-edge methods that address this challenge.

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features methods for analyzing protein interactions
09/08/2006
Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Fri., Sept. 8, 2006 – Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, an online journal that publishes methods used in a wide range of biology laboratories, has added over 40 new peer-reviewed protocols to its archive today. The new collection highlights two techniques for characterizing protein interactions, which will aid many cell and molecular biologists—including those who seek to identify the molecular basis of human diseases. Both of these methods are freely accessible from the journal’s website: www.cshprotocols.org.

Loring and Fan
09/01/2006

San Diego, Calif. -- Scientists from the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (BIMR) and Illumina Inc., in collaboration with stem cell researchers around the world, have found that the DNA of human embryonic stem cells is chemically modified in a characteristic, predictable pattern.

DNA to the Defense
08/04/2006
CAMBRIDGE, U.K., Fri., Aug 4, 2006 – A team of scientists headed by Dr. Sara Melville at the University of Cambridge has shown that the parasite known to cause African sleeping sickness has evolved an unusual chromosomal structure as a result of environmental adaptation.

RNA interference methods
08/01/2006
Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Tues., Aug. 1, 2006 – The current issue of Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, published online today, features new, freely available methods for using RNA interference (RNAi) in mice and Drosophila.

Potato blight pathogenicity explained
07/03/2006
WAGENINGEN, The Netherlands, Mon., July 3, 2006 – A team of researchers from Wageningen University report in this month’s issue of Genome Research that they have identified a unique genetic fingerprint in the pathogen responsible for potato blight.

New Development for reccessive genetic disorder carriers
07/03/2006
PHILADELPHIA, Mon., July 3, 2006 – Scientists Vivian Cheung and Warren Ewens from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new approach for the diagnosis of medical disorders that are inherited in a recessive manner.

Lurking lung cancer alleles
06/01/2006
LONDON, U.K., Thurs., June 1, 2006 – In the largest genome-wide scan for lung cancer-susceptibility genes to date, scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research have identified 64 gene variants that may predispose some individuals to lung cancer.

Hotspots - Drs. Ohno, Miura and others
05/01/2006
FUKUOKA, Japan, Mon., May 1, 2006 – In this month’s issue of the leading scientific journal Genome Research, scientists from Kyushu University report how environmentally damaged DNA may contribute to human genetic diversity.

Major obesity gene is lost in the shuffle
04/01/2006
TOKYO, Japan, Sat., April 1, 2006 – Scientists from The University of Tokyo announce today that gibbons, arboreal primates that inhabit the jungles of Southeast Asia, do not carry a major obesity gene that is present in the genomes of all other primates, including humans.

Where jumping genes fear to tread
02/01/2006
BRISBANE, Australia – Scientists from the University of Queensland report in the journal Genome Research that large segments of the human genome are conspicuously devoid of ubiquitous mobile DNA elements called transposons. The locations of these regions are highly conserved among mammalian species and are enriched in genes crucial for the regulation of developmental processes.

Tandem Transcripts Team Together
01/01/2006
In the January issue of the journal Genome Research, two teams of scientists describe a widespread phenomenon in the human genome called transcription-induced chimerism (TIC), where two adjacent genes produce a single, fused RNA transcript.

Pregnant protein-coding genes carry RNA babies
01/01/2006
BEIJING, China – Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have performed a comprehensive analysis of small, non-protein-coding RNAs in the model nematode, C. elegans. They characterize 100 heretofore-undescribed transcripts, including two novel classes; they provide insights into the genomic structure and transcriptional regulation of non-coding RNAs; and they underscore the importance of non-coding RNAs in nematode development.

Primate Tip Sheet
09/01/2005

The September 2005 issue of Genome Research presents a series of studies that provide insight into the evolution and variation of primate genomes.

Ciccarelli
02/14/2005
HEIDELBERG, Germany, Mon., February 14, 2005 – A team of scientists led by Peer Bork, Ph.D., Senior Bioinformatics Scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, report today in the journal Genome Research that they have identified a new primate-specific gene family that spans about 10% of human chromosome 2.

Chicken Genomic Sequence
12/09/2004
COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y., Thurs., Dec. 9, 2004 – Studies published online today in the journal Genome Research (www.genome.org) utilize the chicken genomic sequence, in comparison with genomic sequences from other species, to illuminate several interesting aspects of vertebrate evolution.

Living Fossil - coelacanth
11/15/2004
STANFORD, Calif., Mon., Nov. 15, 2004 – A team of Stanford University researchers led by Richard Myers, Ph.D., in collaboration with Chris Amemiya, Ph.D., of the Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, campaign in the December issue of Genome Research for deciphering the genetic code of a “living fossil” fish, the coelacanth.

OPEN ACCESS OPTION
09/27/2004
September 27, 2004 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press announced today that authors of papers in its journal Genome Research can now choose to have their papers made freely available online immediately upon publication.