Jordana T. Bell

Genetic Impacts on Variability of Body Fat Distribution Uncover Gene-Environment and Gene-Gene Interactions

The paper identifies variance QTLs (vQTLs) and gene-environment interactions for body fat distribution using UK Biobank MRI and genetic data, with replication in external cohorts.

methbiome: reference-based DNA methylation profiling of long-read metagenomic data

The paper introduces methbiome, a tool for reference-based DNA methylation profiling of long-read metagenomic data, enabling cross-platform and between-sample comparison of methylation signals in microbiomes.

Genetic impacts on within-pair DNA methylation variance in monozygotic twins capture gene-environment interactions and cell-type effects

The paper identifies vmeQTLs for blood DNA methylation variance in MZ twins, showing gene-environment interactions and cell-type effects relevant to immune disease.

Genetic regulation of fatty acid content in adipose tissue

This study identifies genetic loci regulating fatty acid levels in adipose tissue and links them to metabolic and cardiovascular traits.

Theobromine is Associated with Slower Epigenetic Ageing

The paper finds that higher serum theobromine levels are associated with slower epigenetic ageing in humans, as measured by GrimAge and DNAmTL.

Twin pair analysis uncovers novel links between DNA methylation, mitochondrial DNA quantity and obesity

The paper identifies a locus, SH3BP4, where DNA methylation correlates with mtDNAq and obesity-related traits in adipose tissue, suggesting potential causal relationships.

DNA methylation and gene expression trajectories of human postprandial metabolism

The paper identifies DNA methylation and gene expression changes in human blood after a meal, linking them to cardiometabolic health and obesity-related genes.

Detecting genetic effects on phenotype variability to capture gene-by-environment interactions: a systematic method comparison

This paper compares methods for detecting genetic variants affecting phenotypic variance under gene-environment interactions and identifies optimal approaches for different exposure types.

Genetic impacts on DNA methylation help elucidate regulatory genomic processes

The paper identifies genetic impacts on DNA methylation across 724,499 CpGs in blood samples, revealing co-localisations with disease traits and regulatory mechanisms.

Hemin availability induces coordinated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in Porphyromonas gingivalis

This study investigates how hemin availability affects DNA methylation and gene expression in Porphyromonas gingivalis, identifying coordinated changes in six genes related to virulence.

Integrative genomic analyses in adipocytes implicate DNA methylation in human obesity and diabetes

This study identifies DNA methylation changes associated with extreme obesity and finds causal effects on obesity and metabolic disturbances using Mendelian Randomisation.

Age acquired skewed X Chromosome Inactivation is associated with adverse health outcomes in humans

This study shows that age-related skewed X chromosome inactivation in females is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk and cancer incidence.

ACE2 expression in adipose tissue is associated with COVID-19 cardio-metabolic risk factors and cell type composition

The paper examines the association between adipose tissue ACE2 expression and cardio-metabolic risk factors, finding lower ACE2 levels linked to T2D, obesity, and inflammation-related cell type changes.

Characterizing the human methylome across the life course: findings from eight UK-based studies

This study maps DNA methylation changes across the human life course using data from 7,037 individuals, showing increased variability and age-related mean changes at specific CpG sites.

Differentially methylated regions and methylation QTLs for teen depression and early puberty in the Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Study

The paper identifies differentially methylated regions and methylation QTLs associated with teen depression and early puberty using longitudinal DNA methylation data from the Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Study.

Epigenome-wide association meta-analysis of DNA methylation with coffee and tea consumption

This study identifies DNA methylation sites associated with coffee and tea consumption using EWAS, finding potential links to fatty liver disease through PHGDH expression.

The Genomic Loci of Specific Human tRNA Genes Exhibit Ageing-Related DNA Hypermethylation

The paper identifies age-related DNA hypermethylation at specific human tRNA gene loci using DNA methylome data from peripheral blood.

Large-scale association analyses identify host factors influencing human gut microbiome composition

The paper identifies 31 host genetic loci influencing gut microbiome composition through GWAS and suggests causal effects in inflammatory diseases.

Genome-wide association studies identify 137 loci for DNA methylation biomarkers of ageing

This study identifies 137 genome-wide significant loci associated with DNA methylation biomarkers of ageing using DNAm and SNP data from over 41,000 individuals.

Heritability of skewed X-inactivation in female twins is tissue-specific and dependent on age

This study quantifies XCI skewing in female twins across tissues, showing age- and tissue-specific heritability and associations with smoking in older females.

Novel DNA methylation sites of glucose and insulin homeostasis: an integrative cross-omics analysis

This study identifies nine novel DNA methylation sites associated with fasting glucose and insulin levels by integrating cross-omics data from multiple cohorts.

Epigenetic findings in periodontitis in UK twins: a cross sectional study

This study identifies DNA methylation changes in blood and tissue samples associated with periodontal disease in older female twins.

Smoking induces coordinated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in adipose tissue with consequences for metabolic health

This study identifies smoking-associated DNA methylation and gene expression changes in adipose tissue and links some to cardio-metabolic health outcomes.

Increased DNA methylation variability in rheumatoid arthritis discordant monozygotic twins

The paper identifies a differentially variable DNA methylation signature in rheumatoid arthritis discordant monozygotic twins, suggesting epigenetic variability contributes to autoimmune disease.

Genome-wide association analysis of lifetime cannabis use (N=184,765) identifies new risk loci, genetic overlap with mental health, and a causal influence of schizophrenia on cannabis use

This study identifies 4 new risk loci for cannabis use through GWAS, finds genetic overlap with mental health, and shows a causal link between schizophrenia and cannabis use.

Age-dependent changes in mean and variance of gene expression across tissues in a twin cohort

The paper quantifies age-related changes in gene expression levels, splicing, and variance across tissues and identifies environmental and genetic influences on these changes in a twin cohort.

GWAS of epigenetic ageing rates in blood reveals a critical role for TERT

This study identifies genetic variants associated with epigenetic age acceleration and shows TERT's role in regulating the DNA methylation clock.