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In this Review, Janssen and Lorincz discuss the intricate and multilayered interplay between chromatin marks. Focusing on histone methylation and DNA methylation during mammalian development, they discuss the implications for gene regulation, differentiation and human disease.
A study in Nature describes single-cell ribosome sequencing, which advances single-cell genomics by enabling the measurement of translational dynamics in single cells.
In this Review, Zhang et al. summarize our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of plants to abiotic stresses, and how this knowledge can be used to improve crop resilience through genetic, chemical and microbial approaches.
In this Review, Loos and Yeo summarize our current understanding of the genetic underpinnings of monogenic and polygenic obesity. They highlight the commonalities revealed by recent studies and discuss the implications for treatment and prediction of obesity risk.
In this Review, Przybyla and Gilbert describe the latest approaches for CRISPR-based functional genomics screens, including the adoption of single-cell transcriptomic read-outs and applications in characterizing the non-coding genome and mapping genetic interactions at scale.
In this Review, Conine and Rando discuss, across species, the myriad examples of intercellular RNA trafficking from nurse cells or somatic tissues to developing gametes, and consider how intercellular RNA trafficking shapes the germline epigenome.
In this Review, the authors describe our latest understanding of the emergence and properties of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants, particularly those designated as WHO (World Health Organization) ‘variants of concern’. They focus on the consequences of these variants for antibody-mediated virus neutralization, with important implications for reinfection risk and for vaccine effectiveness.
The authors review intra-individual and inter-individual plant epigenome variation during development and in response to environmental changes, including stress. They also discuss functions of epigenome plasticity and epigenome editing technologies that will drive future research.
Three recent studies report the generation of miniature CRISPR systems based on compact Cas effector proteins, showing high efficiency of genome editing or transcriptional regulation in mammalian cells.
Four new studies in Nature report multi-tissue analyses of somatic mutations from human donors, with insights into cell lineage commitment during embryonic development, as well as tissue-specific aspects of mutagenesis.
Regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic disease and mortality, but the mechanisms underpinning this protective effect are poorly understood. Here, Kim et al. review candidate genes and pathways implicated in human performance by genetic, genomic and multi-omic studies.
This molecular phenotyping study shows that common variants in mitochondrial DNA associated with diseases of ageing influence cellular protein homeostasis, and that this link is mediated by circulating levels of N-formylmethionine, the initiating amino acid in mitochondrial protein synthesis.
In this Viewpoint, five experts discuss our biological understanding of super-enhancers, how we can responsibly study their functions, and their opinions on whether names for enhancer clusters are an informative reflection of their functional properties.
A new study in Nature reports a large-scale genome-wide association study of menopause timing, revealing mechanistic details and potential therapeutic opportunities for preserving human fertility.
Leigh and colleagues describe the potential of the emerging field of macrogenetics to improve conservation and biodiversity management. Challenges preventing the field from reaching its full promise are highlighted and possible solutions and a framework for future macrogenetic studies are proposed.
The evolutionary persistence of animal symbioses depends on both host and symbiont innovations. Perreau and Moran review how genome sequencing and related experiments have clarified how these innovations arise under different symbiont population structures, categorized here as open, closed and mixed.
Attempts to understand the role of aneuploidy in tumorigenesis have been hampered by conflicting results. Now, two new mouse models described in Genes and Development provide evidence that chromosome instability-induced aneuploidy drives T cell lymphomagenesis.
In this Review, Ethan Bier discusses how several impactful technical advancements, particularly involving CRISPR-based methods, are providing a diverse toolkit of gene-drive systems for the control of populations such as insect vectors of disease.
In this Review, Senft and Macfarlan discuss the diverse ways by which transposable elements (TEs) contribute to mammalian development and evolution, including direct contributions through TE-derived regulatory elements, RNAs and proteins, as well as indirect effects through the evolution of a TE repression system, the Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs).
