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This Review introduces the applications of single-molecule approaches to the study of genomic processes such as transcription and translation. The authors explain the basic principles of key techniques and provide examples of recent insights fromin vitro and in vivostudies.
In addition to somatic mutations in tumours, inherited genetic variants can influence how a patient with cancer responds to drug treatment. This Review considers best practice in design and analysis for pharmacogenomic studies to identify such variants, potentially leading to personalized oncology.
Despite their complexity and dynamics, proteomes are starting to be comprehensively characterized; this has been made possible particularly by various technical advances in mass spectrometry. This Review highlights how proteomic studies are contributing to our understanding of various cellular processes in health and disease.
Transposable elements are important sources of genetic and epigenetic variation in plant genomes. The author discusses the evidence that this variation has been important for plant evolution and how new genomic resources should allow a systematic assessment of this issue.
A potential role for chromatin in the maintenance of genome integrity has recently emerged. The potential roles for chromatin regulators in coordinating signalling from chromatin during the replication and repair processes, in addition to evidence for a role for chromatin remodellers in accurate segregation, are presented.
