Epigenetics

The importance of epigenetic regulation of gene expression, particularly in higher organisms, is now clear and the 2004 Cold Spring Harbor Annual Symposium provided many new examples as well as insights into the underlying mechanisms. The resulting volume—with over 60 papers from experts across the field—covers various aspects of nuclear organization and dynamics; genomic imprinting, chromosomal inactivation, and other examples of gene silencing; the histone and DNA modifications associated with these conditions; and the roles of RNA and protein regulators in establishing and maintaining these states.