Epigenetic rheostat helps uncover how gene regulation is inherited and maintained
December 14, 2017
DNA Methylation—the addition of chemical tags to DNA—typically reduces the expression of methylated genes. Whitehead Institute Member Mary Gehring and her lab have identified a mechanism important for maintaining methylation, that when disrupted, results in the demethylation of large sections of the Arabidopsis plant’s genome.
New study prompts rethinking transcription factor’s role in control of gene expression
December 7, 2017
Like proteins, genomes must fold appropriately to function properly; some transcription factors provide the structural support
Video: David Page speaks at the Simons Center for the Social Brain Lunch Series
December 5, 2017
In October 2017, Whitehead Institute Director David Page presented Sex and Disease: Do males and females read their genomes differently?” at the Simon Center for the Social Brain speakers series. Dr. Page spoke about the comparative genomic and evolutionary studies of the sex chromosomes of humans, other mammals, birds, and reptiles conducted by him and his colleagues.
Large-scale approach reveals imperfect actor in plant biotechnology
November 27, 2017
Whitehead researchers detect the chemical ‘mistakes’ of common herbicide-resistance enzyme, successfully re-engineer it for enhanced precision
Surprising roles for muscle in tissue regeneration, study finds
November 22, 2017
Whitehead Member Peter Reddien pinpoints distinct muscle subsets that orchestrate and pattern regrowth
AudioHelicase: Whitehead’s Sebastian Lourido on Toxoplasma, malaria parasites, and global health
November 20, 2017
Whitehead Member Sebastian Lourido discusses his work uncovering how the Toxoplasma parasite causes disease and the importance of understanding parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis and malaria in the context of global health.
Of highways, engines, and chromosomes
November 16, 2017
Whitehead researchers unravel fundamental molecular machinery that propels chromosome movement
Key nutrient sensor identified for cellular pathway linking nutrient availability to cell growth
November 9, 2017
Whitehead Member David Sabatini has identified the methionine sensor in the mTOR pathway, which is a crucial metabolic pathway in cells. His work provides interesting data suggesting that the anti-aging and anti-diabetes effects of low methionine and mTOR inhibition may be connected.
Retinoic acid regulates transitions in mouse sperm production
November 7, 2017
Researchers swimming upstream in reproductive technology work now have important insights into sperm production
A new workflow for natural product characterization comes ashore with red algae
October 30, 2017
Whitehead Member Jing-Ke Weng uses an omics-based path for identifying and generating sesquiterpene-based therapeutics at scale.
Small worm muscles up to reveal ancient body patterning mechanism during regeneration
October 30, 2017
Whitehead Member Peter Reddien has determined that a major function of muscle in planaria and acoels--a small regenerative marine worm auspiciously located on the evolutionary tree as an outgroup to all the rest of the Bilateria--is to serve as the source of instructive positional information for instructing regeneration.
AudioHelicase: NASA Astronaut and Former Whitehead Fellow Kathleen "Kate" Rubins
October 23, 2017
NASA Astronaut and Former Whitehead Fellow Kathleen "Kate" Rubins discusses her journey from studying pox viruses to sequencing DNA in space.