A new approach to studying the effects of two common chemicals used in cosmetics and sunscreens found they can cause DNA damage in breast cells at surprisingly low concentrations, while the same dose did not harm cells without estrogen receptors.

The research, published Jan. 15 in Environmental Health Perspectives, identifies a new mechanism by which estrogens and xenoestrogens – environmental chemicals that act like estrogens – may promote breast cancer, says breast cancer researcher D. Joseph Jerry, professor of veterinary and animal sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Jerry also serves as science director of the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute and co-director of the Rays of Hope Center for Breast Cancer Research in a partnership between UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center. Read more

In a new paper, a team of evolutionary biologists and geneticists led by senior author associate professor Ana Caicedo, with first author Hamid Razifard at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and others, report that they have identified missing links in the tomato’s evolution from a wild blueberry-sized fruit in South America to the larger modern tomato of today. Details appear in an Advanced Access edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution. Read more

Studies have shown that perinatal exposure of rats and mice to common flame retardants found in household items permanently reprograms liver metabolism, often leading later in life to insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Now, research led by University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental toxicologist Alexander Suvorov, with co-authors in Moscow, Russia, has identified the likely mechanism responsible for the pollutant’s effect: an altered liver epigenome. The epigenome refers to heritable changes in gene expression without changes in the DNA sequence. “Changes in the liver epigenome can explain those functional changes in the liver,” Suvorov explains. “We looked at two different epigenetic mechanisms and there were changes in both.” These findings were published Dec. 13 in the medical journal Epigenomics. Read more

Shelly Peyton, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). The college is made up of 2,000 members, the top 2% of the medical and biological engineering community, who are outstanding bioengineers in academia, industry, clinical practice and government.

AIMBE is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that represents the most accomplished individuals in the fields of medical and biological engineering. “As chair of AIMBE’s College of Fellows, I oversee the nomination, review and election process,” says Paul Citron. “I can say without any hesitation the Class of 2020 is truly remarkable. This year AIMBE received the largest number of nominations - all of which were qualified candidates.”

Peyton is the head of the Peyton Research Group. She says, “We are several women and men, engineers, and biologists, and our mission is to learn how cells process information from their chemical and physical tissue environment.” Read more