Joseph Ecker studies plant, mouse, and human cells to decipher epigenetic processes during development and disease. Combining newly developed methods with genome- and methylome-sequencing, Ecker’s lab group measures changes in the epigenome, exploring, for example, how adding molecules such as methyl or hydroxy-methyl groups to the backbone of DNA can help cells fine-tune gene expression. Much of the team’s work on mouse and human epigenomics is focused on the brain. By understanding how the genome and epigenome communicate with one another, they aim to untangle the complexity of regulatory processes that underlie both normal development and disease.
International research team unveils new data describing the interaction between genetic and epigenetic variation in Arabidopsis thaliana. HHMI scientists have profiled key features of the genetic material inside three types of brain cells and found vast differences in the patterns of chemical modifications that affect how the genes in each type of neuron are regulated. Eleven HHMI scientists are elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. New research reveals details of changing DNA methylation patterns as the brain matures. A discovery of how ethylene triggers changes in gene activity could lead to new ways to stop or slow ripening. Fifteen scientists working in the plant sciences gain flexible support from HHMI and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to move their research in creative new directions.