It’s a new week, and you know what that means – plenty of new genomics news for you to get stuck into! In Week in Brief, we summarise the latest and greatest developments.
New research has revealed that small cell lung cancer cells are able to generate their own electrical network. This allows the tumour to thrive independently of the rest of the body, driving the aggressiveness of the cancer (Nature).
Researchers have developed a low-cost blood test that can detect pancreatic cancer before it spreads. The test detects proteases and could help to lower the mortality rate of pancreatic cancer by allowing for earlier detection (Science Translational Medicine).
A recent study has shown that some colorectal cancer cells can revert to a ‘fetal-like’ state. This drives phenotypic plasticity and allows the cells to evade treatment (Nature Genetics).
New work has shed light on the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to thrive despite the presence of serious chromosomal changes. Understanding this aspect of tumour proliferation could contribute to more effective treatments (The EMBO Journal).
In a meta-analysis of women with alopecia, researchers have discovered a gene-gene interaction, known as epistasis, which influences the risk of developing the condition. The genes in question have been previously associated with autoimmune diseases (JAMA Dermatology).
Scientists have identified a genetic variant that can protect against a rare disease that causes seizures, according to a study in fruit flies. This comes after researchers observed that some family members with the disease-causing gene did not develop the condition (AJHG).
A process known as transcriptional adaptation can influence the production of a protein called utrophin, which can in turn compensate for the lack of the dystrophin protein in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is according to a new study, which suggests that this mechanism could be a starting point for new therapies (Nature).
New research has shown that factors such as DNA organisation and chemical modifications can influence how much damage is caused by cigarette smoke, and how well the damage can be repaired (Nucleic Acids Research).
A study has shown that, when presenting with the symptoms of neurological disorders, white children are almost twice as likely as Black children to undergo and complete genetic testing. Insurance coverage is also more frequently denied in the latter group, creating barriers to diagnosis and treatment (Neurology).
A comprehensive genetic map of kidney function has been released, identifying over 1,000 potential new drug targets for kidney disease (Science).
Finally, a study in mice has shown that genes associated with DNA mismatch repair play a role in Huntington’s disease pathology. These findings could pave the way for new treatments for the currently incurable condition (Cell).
See last week’s Week in Brief here.
