One of the greatest biological mysteries is how a single cell with a single DNA sequence can develop into the great variety of different cells found in our bodies. So far, science has been able to answer this question only in part.
The identity of each cell is determined by additional molecules that activate or deactivate certain areas of the genetic material (genome). Like a blueprint, this epigenome makes the individual development of the cells possible. The epigenome can be influenced by the environment; as a result, diseases can also develop.
The goal of the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) is to give scientists free access to human epigenome data. This approach is designed to facilitate research into the underlying mechanisms of the epigenome and effects upon diseases. Scientists from Canada, Europe (including Germany), Japan, Singapore, and the USA were involved in the current publications.
"With a topic as complex as research on the epigenome, scientific progress is best achieved, through comprehensive cooperation among the widest possible variety of disciplines", says Prof. Dr. med. Joachim L. Schultze of Genomics & Immunoregulation at the LIMES Institute. The wealth of current publications in prestigious technical journals shows how successfully the international consortium is working.
The publication from Bonn:
http://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(16)30433-2
All publications:
http://www.cell.com/consortium/IHEC
Information on the IHEC:
http://ihec-epigenomes.org