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Functions of histone lysine demethylases in a range of developmental and physiological processes are rapidly being uncovered, as are the roles of these enzymes in disease. Histone demethylases also provide a promising new route towards the therapeutic targeting of epigenetic regulators.
Recent studies in yeast, invertebrates and mammals have begun to solve the puzzle of how dietary restriction results in increased longevity. An increased knowledge of the underlying pathways promises to provide new directions for treating ageing-related diseases in humans.
A combination of ecological, population genetic and molecular studies has stimulated progress in understanding the forces that shape natural phenotypic variation. Technical advances that allow fitness differences to be linked to individual polymorphisms now promise rapid progress in this field.
Identifying regions of the human genome that have been subject to selection is key to understanding our evolution, and provides insights into the genetic basis of disease. However, important caveats require consideration when interpreting the results of attempts to identify selected regions.
Advances in technology and improved genome annotation have greatly clarified the role of genome architecture in the aetiology of many well-known and newly described clinical disorders. The authors focus on a group of genomic disorders mediated by segmental duplications to illustrate recent advances in their dissection and diagnosis.
Eukaryotes have evolved small RNA-guided regulatory networks to control RNA transcripts, chromatin, repeated genomic sequences and invasive agents, such as viruses. Spatiotemporal regulation of the transcriptome through these pathways has shaped the evolution of eukaryotic genomes and contributed to the complexity of multicellular organisms.
Although the early years of genetics have been well described by historians, it is only now being realized that this was one of the earliest emerging disciplines in twentieth-century biology to benefit from the contributions of women. Many, however, became 'silent scientists' — publishing no paper beyond their dissertation.
