RSS Channels Index
Scientists Revolutionize the Creation of Genetically Altered Mice to Model Human Disease
Whitehead Institute Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch has efficiently created mouse models with multiple gene mutations in a matter of weeks. Because the method does not require embryonic stem cells, the approach also could allow any animal to become...
5/1/2013 5:10 PM EDT
Genetic Master Controls Expose Cancers’ Achilles’ Heel
In a surprising finding that helps explain fundamental behaviors of normal and diseased cells, Whitehead Institute scientists have discovered a set of powerful gene regulators dubbed “super-enhancers” that control cell state and identity.
4/9/2013 3:45 PM EDT
For Third Year Running, Whitehead Institute Takes Top Place for Postdocs
In the final year of the “Best Places to Work: Postdocs” ranking, Whitehead Institute has again come out on top. This is the fourth time in 10 years that Whitehead has emerged as number one—more than any other institution in the history of the...
4/1/2013 5:50 PM EDT
Protective Prion Keeps Yeast Cells From Going It Alone
A team of scientists has added markedly to the job description of prions as agents of change, identifying a prion capable of triggering a transition in yeast from its conventional single-celled form to a cooperative, multicellular structure. This...
3/27/2013 5:00 PM EDT
Whitehead’s Robert Weinberg to Receive New Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
Whitehead Institute Founding Member Robert Weinberg is among 11 scientists to receive the new Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, intended to recognize excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life.
2/20/2013 12:15 PM EST
Long Noncoding RNAs Control Development of Fat Cells
Whitehead Institute researchers report that 10 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of white fat cells. When each of these lncRNAs is individually knocked down, fat precursor cells fail to mature into white fat cells and...
2/13/2013 11:15 AM EST
Paired Genes in Stem Cells Shed New Light on Gene Organization and Regulation
Research from Whitehead Institute shows that transcription at the active promoters of protein-coding genes commonly runs in opposite directions. This leads to coordinated production of both protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and long noncoding...
2/1/2013 10:40 AM EST
Scientists Expose New Vulnerabilities in the Security of Personal Genetic Information
Using only a computer, an Internet connection, and publicly accessible online resources, a team of Whitehead Institute researchers has been able to identify nearly 50 individuals who had submitted personal genetic material as participants in genomic...
1/13/2013 8:00 PM EST