I’ve been more interested in histones and their modifications versus DNA methylation when it comes to epigenetics and chromatin. In part this has just been because I have studied histones so much more. For example, we have been knocking out the two histone variant H3.3 genes, H3f3a and H3f3b, now for a decade. My lab also […]
Weekly reads: DNA methylation, H3 K27M in glioma, memory wipe, teeth Read More »
What if we could grow new teeth from stem cells to replace lost ones or fix others that have big cavities again via tooth stem cells? While humans and some other animals like dogs have only two sets of teeth — so-called baby and adult teeth — in their lives, other animals aren’t so limited. For
Lessons from sharks: how we might grow new teeth via stem cells Read More »
Years ago I wrote about how I wished humans could form a blastema, which is a special area of regeneration near an injury that drives tissue replacement. For example, when a lizard loses its tail to a pursuing bobcat, if it can regrow a new one that process will depend on a blastema. The same goes
New Year’s reads: having a blastema, gene therapy cost, pathogen lab escape data Read More »
It feels like we are marching towards a future in which key aspects of human reproduction, including the use of artificial wombs, could be substantially different than for most of history. The FDA is considering allowing a clinical trial for use of artificial wombs in people. Human trials of artificial wombs could start soon. Here’s
Weekly reads: artificial wombs, mice with rat brains, Neuralink Read More »
One of my favorite types of papers are those on stem cells and chromatin, and a new one in Current Biology caught my eye this week. My own lab website has the URL chromatin.com so that says something. You can also read more about our research here. Recommended reads: chromatin and stem cells, more Asymmetric
Weekly recommended reads including asymmetric division & chromatin Read More »
The International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy or ISCT held a really interesting webinar yesterday on the FDA and unproven stem cell clinics. It was focused on the expiration of the FDA’s discretionary period on unproven stem cell clinics. What will the FDA do now? The webinar included some ideas and also quite a
New data on stem cell clinics, INDs, & more including from FDA itself Read More »
I managed to escape to do some hiking along the coast so I’m behind on my weekly reading and I’m just getting back here on The Niche. Here are some articles I’m hoping to catch up on in coming days including an interesting overview of stem cells for tooth repair. I sometimes have a wistful
Weekly The Niche Reads: tooth repair, PRC2, beach pics Read More »
Sometimes on The Niche or while teaching students as a professor here at UC Davis School of Medicine, I’ve been asked: What is a teratoma? Not all tumors are created equal and some like teratomas are particularly unusual. Exactly what is a teratoma tumor? Teratomas are germ cell tumors. What this means is that the
What is a teratoma tumor? Research & treatment Read More »
Does time seem somewhat warped to anyone else in 2020 even without having had COVID, which could alter brain function? It just seems like with everything going on that time simultaneously both drags and zooms by this year. One sort of reassuring element is that papers keep on being published so we can enjoy cool
Weekly reads: lab meat, crow brain biology, direct reprogramming, more Read More »
I’m doing an experiment today to see if people enjoy a mid-week splash of a few Wednesday recommended science reads and the first one collides with art. You can see Sunday’s recommended weekly reads here too. Also, be sure to visit our Facebook page if you have a moment and please like our page if
Mid-week rec reads: plague paleogenomics, bats, art, get new skin, & more Read More »