Table of contents
June 2006 Vol 7 No 6
Research Highlights
Population genetics: Size doesn't matter | PDF (571 KB)
p408 | doi:10.1038/nrg1887
Mouse genetics: No Mickey-Mouse phenomics | PDF (147 KB)
p409 | doi:10.1038/nrg1886
In brief
Evolution | Transcription | Synthetic biology | Parasite genetics | PDF (84 KB)
p409 | doi:10.1038/nrg1889
Development: A developing role for polycomb proteins | PDF (117 KB)
p410 | doi:10.1038/nrg1873
Stem cells: Poised for action | PDF (117 KB)
p410 | doi:10.1038/nrg1881
Evolution: A tinkerer's tales | PDF (118 KB)
p411 | doi:10.1038/nrg1874
Disease genetics: The benefits of networking | PDF (127 KB)
p412 | doi:10.1038/nrg1876
Technology: A targeted viewing | PDF (72 KB)
p412 | doi:10.1038/nrg1883
In brief
Drug discovery | Epigenetics | Neurogenetics | Epigenetics | PDF (80 KB)
p412 | doi:10.1038/nrg1890
Transcriptomics: Charting the functional landscape of the mammalian genome | PDF (197 KB)
p413 | doi:10.1038/nrg1885
Ethics watch
Implications of copy-number variation in the human genome: a time for questions | PDF (114 KB)
p414 | doi:10.1038/nrg1884
Reviews
Molecular genetics of Rett syndrome: when DNA methylation goes unrecognized
Thierry Bienvenu & Jamel Chelly
p415 | doi:10.1038/nrg1878
Mutations that affect the MECP2 protein, which binds methylated DNA, cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. Exciting advances are being made in understanding how MECP2 defects affect the interpretation of DNA methylation marks to cause specific disease phenotypes.
Gene drive systems for insect disease vectors
Steven P. Sinkins & Fred Gould
p427 | doi:10.1038/nrg1870
Effective gene drive systems for spreading genes that can block the transmission of insect-borne pathogens are much needed. Naturally occurring selfish genetic elements have enormous potential that can be exploited to control of some of the world's most devastating diseases.
The quest for genetic determinants of human longevity: challenges and insights
Kaare Christensen, Thomas E. Johnson & James W. Vaupel
p436 | doi:10.1038/nrg1871
Although an abundance of candidate genes have been highlighted as possible determinants of human longevity, only one finding has been replicated. Larger and longer-running studies, careful consideration of study design, and improved analyses hold the key to future progress.
Inborn errors of metabolism: the flux from Mendelian to complex diseases
Brendan Lanpher, Nicola Brunetti-Pierri & Brendan Lee
p449 | doi:10.1038/nrg1880
Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are often thought of as Mendelian, but are in fact good examples of multifactorial traits. Advances in IEM diagnosis and management lie in combining dynamic measurements of metabolic flux with a range of omics data.
Chromatin remodelling in mammalian differentiation: lessons from ATP-dependent remodellers
Ivana L. de la Serna, Yasuyuki Ohkawa & Anthony N. Imbalzano
p461 | doi:10.1038/nrg1882
Increasing evidence indicates that ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling has specific and tightly controlled functions in the regulation of gene expression during mammalian differentiation. Recent studies also link chromatin-remodelling activities to other key events in the differentiation process.
Perspectives
Opinion
The principles of guiding by RNA: chimeric RNA–protein enzymes
Alexander Hüttenhofer & Peter Schattner
p475 | doi:10.1038/nrg1855
Many of the already characterized non-coding RNAs, including small interfering RNAs, microRNAs and small nucleolar RNAs, guide or target RNP complexes to specific nucleic-acid sequences. How did such chimeric RNA–protein enzymes evolve? And why are they common in some but not other organisms?
Opinion
Addressing the problems with life-science databases for traditional uses and systems biology
Stephan Philippi & Jacob Köhler
p482 | doi:10.1038/nrg1872
The ability to integrate data from different sources is crucial in many areas of biological research, particularly systems biology. This article argues that problems with life-science databases are holding back research, and proposes some practical solutions.
Erratum: D'Arcy Thompson and the theory of transformations
Arthur Wallace
| doi:10.1038/nrg1891
