New technique to improve epigenetics research

摘要

Scientists have developed a new chemical technique that will significantly improve their ability to perform epigenetics research and help them understand how cells develop and function. One of the most studied epigenetics marks is die addition of a methyl group to DNA which turns most genes off - called 5-methylcytosine (5mC). Researchers from the Babraham Institute are involved in researching a DNA chemical modification called 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine (5hmC), believed to be important for stem cell function.