Truly epigenetic: A centromere finds a neo home

Murillo-Pineda and colleagues (2021. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202007210) use CRISPR-Cas9-based genetic engineering in human cells to induce a new functional centromere at a naive chromosomal site. Long-read DNA sequencing at the neocentromere provides firm evidence that centromere establishment is a truly epigenetic event.

Automated summary

The study by Murillo-Pineda and colleagues demonstrates the successful induction of a new functional centromere in human cells using CRISPR-Cas9, with long-read DNA sequencing providing strong evidence that centromere establishment is truly an epigenetic event.