Modified Cells and Methods of Using Same

In one aspect, the present invention provides a genetically modified cell or non-human organism comprising such cells comprising modified genetic material which when expressed produces a polypeptide co-expressed with a reporter molecule and wherein the polypeptide is associated with terminal differentiation of a haematopoietic cell. Preferably, the genetic material gene is a Blimp allele or a part, fragment or functional form thereof. Furthermore, the identification of the reporter molecule in B-cell lineage cells indicates that such cells are committed to differentiate or have differentiated into ASC. Alternatively, reporter molecule activity in cells of a T cell lineage indicates that these cells are activated. Thus, as described herein, the presence of Blimp in a lymphocyte indicates that the cell is terminally differentiated or is committed to terminal differentiation. Exemplary T-cells include CD4+ T-cells and CD8+ T-cells and exemplary B-cells are ASC.

Detection of dna methylation

The present invention relates generally to a method of genetic fingerprinting and more particularly to a method of establishing a methylation signature for a particular eukaryotic cell or group of cells such as in the form of tissue cells or organ-specific cells. The method of the present invention exploits the sensitivity of certain restriction enzymes to methylation. Exposure of genomic or transgene DNA to these enzymes followed by amplification results in products which establish the methylation signature or profile (i.e. the methylome profile) of a cell's or group of cells' genome when compared to the amplified genome in undigested form. The method of the present invention is useful inter alia in phenotyping a cell based on its methylation signature and provides a useful tool in functional genomics and for the design of therapeutic and trait-modifying protocols, particularly for animals and plants. The present invention can also be used to identify and map junctions between methylated ...

Water flotation suit