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Posts Tagged ‘Epigenetics’

Too much yin and not enough yang in cortical networks of MeCP2 mutant mice

Posted in MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 30, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Image via Wikipedia In previous posts, we have explored some of the basic molecular (de-repression of chromatin structure) and cellular (excess synaptogenesis) consequences of mutations in the MeCP2 gene – a.k.a the gene whose loss of function gives rise to Rett syndrome.  One of the more difficult aspects of understanding how a mutation in a [...]

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meme-art 5

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on September 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

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resourceblog: Understanding the molecular basis of cognitive and social impairment in the autism spectrum disorders

Posted in HDACs, MECP2, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia The cognitive and emotional impairments in the autism spectrum disorders can be difficult for parents and siblings to understand and cope with.  Here are some graphics and videos that might assist in understanding how genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications can lead to various forms of social withdrawl commonly observed in the autism [...]

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Epigenetic puppetmasters pull strings of cognitive development from a safe distance

Posted in HDACs, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Image by eugene via Flickr The homunculus (argument) is a pesky problem in cognitive science – a little guy who might suddenly appear when you propose a mechanism for decision making, spontaneous action or forethought  etc. – and would take credit for the origination of the neural impulse.  While there are many mechanistic models of [...]

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Animal model reveals timely insights into immuno-genetic risk of schizophrenia

Posted in Frontal cortex, Hippocampus, MHC loci, tagged , , , on August 19, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Image via Wikipedia Among the various (and few) significant results of recent landmark whole-genome analyses (involving more than 54,000 participants) on schizophrenia (covered here and here), there was really just one consistent result – linkage to the 6p21-22 region containing the immunological MHC loci.  While there has been some despair among professional gene hunters, one [...]

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SNORD115 confirms autism risk in 15q11-13 duplication mouse model

Posted in 5HTT, SNORD115, SNRPN, UBE3A, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 21, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Image via Wikipedia One way to organize the great and growing body of research into autism is via a sort-of  ‘top-down’ vs. ‘bottom-up’ perspective.  From the ‘top-down’ one can read observational research that carefully catalogs the many & varied social and cognitive attributes that are associated with autism.  Often times, these behavioral studies are coupled [...]

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Poor li’l orphan receptor becomes master of the dopamine, epigenetic universe

Posted in NURR1, tagged , on July 10, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Image via Wikipedia Yesterday, there were some grumblings on the nomination of Francis Collins to the head of NIH.  Some folks feel that the genome-wide, genome-everything approach to medicine has somewhat over-promised and under-delivered in its promise to elucidate the molecular pathways of human disease.  In the field of mental health, the whole-genome era is [...]

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Ungroomed granddaughters protest epigenetic marks on BDNF

Posted in BDNF, tagged , , on May 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia Among mammalian species, moms can have it rough. THEY do the foraging and the child rearing usually without the help of dad who may or may not be prancing about defending his territory or doing who knows what.  The biological systems that manage such a predicament for the female would, not surprisingly, [...]

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CpG methylation bears witness to childhood abuse in victims of suicide

Posted in EGR1, Glucocorticoid receptor, Hippocampus, tagged , , , on February 27, 2009 | 5 Comments »

Image by allthewhile via Flickr It is commonly known that some of us handle stress better than others.  Some can calmly accept the dire economic news of an impending layoff while others may fret incessantly day-in-and-out and endure many a sleepless night.  Why ?  What are some of the brain systems that mediate the effects [...]

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Happy 200th birthday Charles Darwin ! Here’s an inherited acquired characteristic for you

Posted in Hippocampus, tagged , , on February 9, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Cover via Amazon Few may pause on February 12 to note the 200 year anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and 150 years since the publication of  “On the Origin of Species” (click here to download).  To some extent, this may be expected since much of the controversy  (creator vs. autonomous biochemical processes) seems [...]

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Epigenetic findings nearly tread on Central Dogma, but yield clues to suicide

Posted in Estrogen, tagged , , , on August 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia The “Central Dogma” of molecular biology rightfully points out a somewhat one-way transfer of information from DNA to RNA to protein. This mechanism has obvious implications for evolution insofar as you are issued a newly shuffled genome at birth and must make the best of it – no cheating allowed by receiving [...]

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Epigenetic keys to brain repair

Posted in HDACs, Myelin, tagged , on July 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia Siming Shen et al., in their paper, “Age-dependent epigenetic control of differentiation inhibitors is critical for remyelination efficiency“ provide insight on basic mechanisms of myelination. While myelination (think of it as the plastic insulation on copper electrical wires) makes normally developing neural networks much more efficient, it has a way of inhibiting [...]

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Epigenetic perk keeps neurons bright-eyed and bushy tailed

Posted in BAF53b, SWI/SNF, tagged , , on December 2, 2007 | Leave a Comment »

Image via Wikipedia There is rightly much ado over the recent stem cell breakthrough. Indeed, who wouldn’t want to have an eternal supply of sprightly new cells to swap in to replace run-down geezer cells. Swapping in a neuron, however, is not quite so simple, as these cells are highly differentiated with far reaching projections [...]

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