Return of the H-word (heterochromatin).

Recent advances in studies of yeast, Drosophila and humans have renewed interest in heterochromatin. These recent studies have demonstrated the interspersion and rapid spread of transposable elements into Drosophila heterochromatin; documented the requirement of heterochromatic genes for heterochromatin; identified heterochromatin-like regions in yeast chromosomes; confirmed an important role for satellite DNA in human centromere function; and suggested potential functions for heterochromatin-associated proteins.