Epigenetic marks by DNA methylation specific to stem, germ and somatic cells in mice

Abstract

Genomic loci with altered methylation status seem to be more common than has hitherto been realized. The formation of DNA methylation patterns at CpG islands is one of the epigenetic events which underlies the production of various cell types in the body. These findings should have implications for the use of embryonic stem cells and cells derived from them therapeutically, and also for the cloning of animals by the transfer of somatic cell nuclei.