Volume 11 Issue 6, June 2010

Cohesin and condensin are best known for their roles in mitosis, but these complexes achieve remarkable functional diversity and specificity. Recent studies have demonstrated their involvement in genome organization, gene expression, organismal development and meiosis.

The authors discuss the evolutionary dynamics of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in relation to the complex interplay between population genetic factors and the spatial and temporal pattern of antibiotic use.

Genome-wide association studies have explained only a small fraction of the genetic basis of complex diseases. This Review argues that rare variants could have a substantial effect on genetic predisposition to common disease, and the authors outline discovery strategies based on whole-genome sequencing for identifying these genetic risk factors.

The rapid induction of specific sets of genes is required for cells to respond to external cues. Transcription of eukaryotic inducible genes is controlled at multiple steps, including activator recruitment and polymerase pausing, and is influenced by chromatin remodelling and signal transduction.

Increasing evidence suggests functional similarities between promoters and insulators. The authors propose that these findings unify existing models of insulator function, provide new directions for understanding how insulators work and suggest that insulators have evolved from promoters.

Seven leading geneticists express their views about where the unidentified components of the heritability for complex human diseases might lie and how this could affect the underlying genetic architecture, as well as offering suggestions of how genomic research could be targeted to address this key issue.