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Genetic diagnosis helps guide care of childhood hearing loss

A recent study found that genomic testing can identify genetic causes of childhood hearing loss and provide critical information on its clinical characteristics. The researchers detected variants responsible for hearing loss in 43 different genes, and the severity of hearing loss varied by gene.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalJAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery·TypeObservational study·DateJan 18, 2023

Researchers produce first-ever toolkit for RNA sequencing analysis using a ‘pantranscriptome’

A new toolkit enables researchers to map individual RNA data to a more diverse 'pantranscriptome', addressing reference bias and increasing the accuracy of gene expression mapping. This approach builds on pangenomics, allowing for the comparison of an individual's genome to genetically diverse cohorts of reference sequences.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature Methods·DateJan 16, 2023

Large-scale study led by Fred Hutch finds new genetic risk factors for colorectal cancer, paving the way for better screening, prevention

A comprehensive analysis of over 100,000 colorectal cancer cases identified 100 new genetic risk factors strongly linked with the disease. These findings could help clinicians determine who's at highest risk for early detection and potentially identify candidates for preventive treatments.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalNature Genetics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 20, 2022

Antibodies to common antibiotic possible new risk factor for type 1 diabetes

A study found that antibodies to common antibiotic gentamicin are associated with an increased risk of progression to type 1 diabetes in children already genetically at risk. The researchers also identified an association between the FUT2 gene and the production of these antibodies, which may be compounding risks for type 1 diabetes.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 8, 2022

Finding the right AI for you

A new AI evaluation framework, GOPHER, has been developed to assess the efficiency of genome analysis algorithms. The tool judges programs on their ability to learn genomic biology, predict patterns, handle noise, and provide interpretable decisions.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateDec 5, 2022

Oncotarget | Treasures from trash in cancer research

A new study explores the value of 'trash data' from cancer genome sequencing, identifying new strategies to uncover previously unexplored information. The researchers found that genomic and transcriptomic data contain relevant information that can help elucidate carcinogenesis and discover putative biomarkers with clinical applications.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 23, 2022

Oncotarget | Mutation analysis performed on tumor biopsies from patients with newly-diagnosed germinal center aggressive B cell lymphomas

A new study analyzed tumor biopsies from patients with newly-diagnosed germinal center B cell lymphoma and found that CREBBP mutations were associated with lower disease-free survival rates. The researchers identified CLMA as a practical tool to translate experimental findings into clinical applications.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 17, 2022

New statistical method improves genomic analyzes

A new statistical method called CLIMB provides a more efficient way to analyze genomic data across multiple conditions. The method combines principles from two traditional techniques, reducing computational intensity and producing biologically interpretable results.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 14, 2022

Ancient DNA analysis sheds light on the early peopling of South America

Researchers used DNA from two ancient human individuals to unravel the deep demographic history of South America, providing new genetic evidence supporting existing archaeological data. They also discovered migrations along the Atlantic coast for the first time and found evidence of Neanderthal ancestry within ancient genomes.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 1, 2022

Association for molecular pathology offers recommendations for in silico approaches for validating next-generation sequencing analysis pipelines

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) has published consensus recommendations for using in silico approaches to validate Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data analysis pipelines. The guidelines provide expert opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of different types of in silico data and offer general recommendations for s...

SourceAssociation for Molecular Pathology·JournalJournal of Molecular Diagnostics·DateOct 18, 2022

Chromosome-scale genome of a gentle giant

Researchers have completed and released a chromosome-scale genome sequence of the Aldabra giant tortoise, providing a much-needed genetic resource for rescue efforts. The data will aid in breeding efforts, comparative studies with other tortoise species, and understanding the species' remarkable size.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2022

How genetics influences our body weight beyond the genes

Researchers have identified microRNA-7 as a non-classic genetic risk factor for hereditary obesity. The molecule affects energy balance and appetite regulation in humans and mice, highlighting the need to examine non-genetic factors in gene-based studies. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating obesity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2022

Cross-border transmissions of the Delta substrain AY.29 from Japan to the world during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

Researchers identified at least 55 independent strains of the Delta substrain AY.29 in 20 countries, with 41 potential links to Olympic and Paralympic participants. The study analyzed genomes from over 6 million international samples, uncovering the spread of the variant during the Tokyo Olympics.

SourceThe Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·TypeSurvey·DateSep 27, 2022

Novel method to predict behavior of different COVID-19 waves in the vaccinated or previously infected

Researchers developed a faster, more affordable method to analyze serological data and predict COVID-19 wave behavior. The study showed that vaccination boosted immunity, with hybrid immunity producing higher protection levels. Antibody levels rose quickly after the first dose, especially in cities where case numbers were highest.

Same same but different

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new method to detect intraspecies genomic diversity, or microdiversity, of uncultivated bacteria. This approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of microbial ecology and evolution, as previously overlooked variations are now being studied.

SourceKyoto University·JournalmSystems·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2022

RIPE researchers report faster screening of photoprotection in crops

The study developed a high-throughput method for screening non-photochemical quenching rates in field-grown plants using pulse amplitude modulated chlorophyll fluorescence analysis. This approach enables testing hundreds of genotypes within a day, paving the way for genome-wide association studies.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2022

Cleveland Clinic researchers discover distinct genomic characteristics of breast cancer in women with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome

Researchers analyzed genomic data from 44 women with germline PTEN mutations who developed breast cancer and compared it to sporadic breast cancers. They found that PTEN and PIK3CA were the most frequently somatically mutated genes in PHTS-associated breast cancers, indicating that somatic mutations in PTEN drive these cancers.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateAug 4, 2022

Sixty-third supplement to the AOS check-list of North American birds publishes today in ornithology

The Sixty-third Supplement to the Check-list of North American Birds updates bird classifications, including meadowlark species splits, hummingbird recognitions, kite separations, and the addition of a giant-petrel. New subspecies are also recognized for some bird species, reflecting advances in genetic analysis.

SourceAmerican Ornithological Society Publications Office·JournalOrnithology·TypeNews article·DateAug 3, 2022

Study supports potential of genome-to-treatment (GTRx™) to guide physicians in the management of 500 treatable genetic diseases

A study published in Nature Communications describes the performance of GTRx, an automated disease management system that integrates rapid Whole Genome Sequencing diagnosis with analysis pipeline. The system provides clinical decision support to guide physicians in selecting optimal therapies for critically ill infants and children.

SourceRady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 26, 2022