Check out the latest Genomics Week in Brief – full of intriguing news and research from the genomics space!
Top stories from the past week:
- A genome-wide association study with over one million participants has revealed 241 new associations with coronary heart disease (Nature).
- Artificial intelligence has predicted the structure of the (pro)renin receptor, known to be involved in pancreatic cancer (Nature).
- “Selfish genes” have been seen to survive and proliferate through production of “poison” proteins (PLoS).
- Researchers have identified multiple genes associated with behaviours in different dog breeds (Cell).
- New research has identified ways in which nucleotide excision repair is controlled. This is a crucial step in DNA repair and the research enhances our understanding of the entire process (Nucleic Acids Research).
- Genetic predisposition to ADHD has been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s later in life (Molecular Psychiatry).
- Researchers have identified structural variants that trigger the activation of oncogenes. Certain alterations to the 3D structure of the genome were seen to affect gene regulation and expression (Nature).
- Genes that are associated with increased alcohol and tobacco use are found across the globe. The majority of the variation associated with this substance use was similar across a broad range of international populations (Nature).
- Researchers have used a new next generation sequencing technology named “Loop-seq” to determine new information about the mechanical properties of DNA. The work also uncovered epigenomic mechanisms which influence DNA bending (Nature).
- New vectors for the delivery of anti-cancer mRNA vaccines have been developed, which have less severe side effects than those currently in use (Advanced Materials).
- A new twin study has revealed that exercise is linked to epigenetic changes that influence gene expression and lowered risk for metabolomic disease (Nature).
- Scientists have developed a new cheaper and more efficient multi-cancer screening test. The test utilises machine learning algorithms to detect changes to glycosaminoglycans – a sugar found in the human metabolome that is associated with cancer (PNAS).
In other news:
- The Red List of Threatened Species has been updated this week. Among the species at risk are everything from corals to crustaceans (BBC).
- The World Health Organisation are monitoring two COVID-19 variants – Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 – that have been circulating in recent months and becoming more dominant (BBC).
- The oldest DNA to ever be sequenced has uncovered information on plant and animal species that were native to the Arctic two million years ago (Nature).
