Detailed analysis of umbilical cord cells shows that the associations between DNA methylation, gene expression and genetic variation are complex and context-dependent.

During meiosis, budding yeast use a checkpoint involving the protein Mec1 to prevent the formation of double-strand breaks in DNA that has not completed replication.

A comprehensive and genome-wide description of the genomic make-up and frequency of meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals regional preferences, including nucleosome-free regions, and two associated recombination motifs.

Analyzing single molecules reveals that Pif1 family helicases periodically patrol DNA, which may explain this enzyme's ability to suppress genome instability at G-quadruplex motifs and transcriptional RNA-DNA hybrids (R-loops).

Intra- and intergenic deletions by repeat recombination broaden the mutagenic potential of the activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) protein.

A non-coding RNA-based targeting mechanism could potentially epigenetically maintain specialized chromatin structures, such as the centromere, in vivo.

The SAGA complex binds non-chromosomal DNA circles and prevents their spreading by attaching them to nuclear pores, thereby leading to the concomitant accumulation of DNA circles and pores in ageing yeast mother cells.

Homologous recombination is the default response to replication impedance by the RTS1 barrier, leading to restarted replication forks that suffer frequent collapse, triggering further rounds of recombination downstream of the barrier.

Heterozygosity changes the balance between interfering and non-interfering crossovers during Arabidopsis meiosis.

A new hominin species has been unearthed in the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system in the largest assemblage of a single species of hominins yet discovered in Africa.