Taking Epigenetics Center Stage C. DavidAllisThomasJenuweinDannyReinbergMarie-LaureCaparrosEpigenetics2007Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory PressCold Spring Harbor, NY502 pp. $150

These days, one hears a lot about epigenetics and epige-netic regulation. Attesting to the current popularity of the subject, a PubMed search using " epigenetics " as the key word returns 17,233 entries (from 1964 to 2006), of which 86% date from the year 2000. What exactly is epigenetics and why has there been this recent surge of interest in this subject? For those researchers working on epigenetics-related problems and those about to do so, we are fortunate that a new book entitled Epigenetics, which provides answers to these questions and more, is now available. This book, the first to be dedicated solely to the subject of epigenetics, has been brought to us thanks to the valiant efforts and foresight of its three editors—C. David Allis, Thomas Jenuwein, and Danny Reinberg—and their associate editor Marie-Laure Caparros. The editors enlisted a group of over forty prominent epigenetics researchers , who each bring their expertise and insights to the 24 chapters of this book that cover the history as well as the current state of epigenetics research. Epigenetics begins with two chapters on the history of epigenetics followed by a chapter written by the three editors that provides basic concepts and an overview of the epigenetics field. The subsequent chapters (4–9) are devoted to epigenetic studies in various model organisms. It was in such model organisms that epigenetic phenomena (such as non-Mendelian inheritance) were first observed. The book also includes discussion of the molecular mechanisms involved in epigenetic regulation (chapters 10–14), investigation of the classical epi-genetic phenomenon of X-inactivation in various model organisms (chapters 15–17), and discussion of DNA methylation, imprinting, stem cell pluripotency, nuclear reprogramming, and lymphopoiesis (chapters 18–22). The book ends with two chapters (23, 24) that highlight the potential link between epigenetic regulation and complex human diseases including cancer and pinpoint the emerging key role of epigenetics in development and disease. The historical accounts of the rise of epigenetics as a field of study, combined with the inclusion of cutting-edging epigenetics research in various biological processes and model organisms, provide the reader with a clear sense of what epigenetics research is about, where it came from, where it is now, and where it is headed. It will prove to be the book that everyone with an interest in epigenetics would want to have and read. According to the American Heritage dictionary, " epi " is the Latin prefix meaning …