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Recently, several new speciation genes have been identified that have contributed to our understanding of the molecular details of the evolution of hybrid dysfunction. This Progress article describes examples of these speciation genes in a range of species and provides insights into the mechanisms that underlie speciation.
The CRISPR system uses small RNAs to provide bacteria and archaea with an adaptive defence mechanism against foreign nucleic acids. Recent studies have increased the understanding of mechanisms of CRISPR interference, its roles in microbial physiology and evolution and its potential applications.
Mapping DNA methylation is vital for understanding the importance of this epigenetic mark in health and disease. Recent years have seen rapid progress in the development of techniques for genome-scale methylation profiling; this Review introduces and evaluates the available methods.
Recent studies have increased our understanding of how DNA methylation is accurately targeted, maintained and modified. Mechanistic similarities between plants and animals have emerged, including key roles for small RNAs, proteins with domains that bind methylated DNA and DNA glycosylases.
This article describes the important advances in our understanding of recombination in humans and mice, from the properties and activity of individual hot spots to the control of the recombination landscape along chromosomes and between the sexes.