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Two ways to read a genome: Scientists reveal the first body-wide, single-cell atlas that maps DNA folding and epigenetics together

Researchers at Salk Institute create a body-wide single-cell atlas of two major epigenetic systems, revealing that cell-type-specific epigenetic features can affect disease risk. The study identifies over 1.36 million differentially methylated regions and 283,606 differential chromatin loops across the human body's cell types.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateJul 23, 2026

Fondazione Telethon’S Genomic Program end the diagnostic odissey for hundreds of children

The program achieved a definitive genetic diagnosis in nearly half of enrolled children, identifying pathogenic variants across 330 genes. Families received timely diagnoses, allowing accurate genetic counseling and informed reproductive choices, while guiding clinical management and opening access to targeted therapies.

SourceFondazione Telethon·JournalGenetics in Medicine Open·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2026

Scientists map the human genome in 4D

Researchers created detailed maps of the human genome's three-dimensional organization across time and space, revealing how genes interact and fold as cells function. The study provides a powerful framework for predicting which genes are likely to be affected by pathogenic variants.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature·DateDec 22, 2025

New world record set for fastest human whole genome sequencing, representing significant step towards revolutionizing genomic care in the NICU

The team achieved rapid genomic sequencing and interpretation within hours, setting a Guinness World Records milestone. This breakthrough has the potential to expedite precise treatments for critically ill babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), reducing waiting times from days to hours.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 15, 2025

Bisulfite-free whole-genome mapping of 5-methylcytosine at single-base resolution by NTD-seq

Researchers have created a novel sequencing technology, NTD-seq, that enables the direct mapping of 5-methylcytosine in genomic DNA. The method, which uses an enzyme to deaminate cytosine and preserve 5mC, shows strong concordance with existing maps and offers a powerful tool for studying epigenetic modifications.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2025

Why do we love carbs? The origins predate agriculture and maybe even our split from Neanderthals

A new study finds that the gene for starch-digesting saliva may have first duplicated more than 800,000 years ago, seeding genetic variation that shapes modern diet. This early duplication set the stage for significant variation in the amylase region, allowing humans to adapt to shifting diets with increasing starch consumption.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2024

Genome sequencing unveils mutational impacts of radiation on mammalian cells

A recent study published in Cell Genomics has uncovered the quantitative and qualitative mutational impacts of ionizing radiation on normal cells. The research team found that exposure to low levels of radiation resulted in an average of 14 mutations per cell, primarily causing short base deletions and complex genomic rearrangements.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalCell Genomics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 14, 2024

Improvements in human genome databases offer a promising future for cancer research

Researchers have developed a new method to analyze protein production in cells using ribosome profiling, which has the potential to advance cancer research. The technique identifies previously unknown protein coding regions and allows for a clearer picture of protein production rate and location.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 21, 2023

UTHSC researchers’ work on human pangenome aids understanding of common chromosomal abnormality

Researchers from UTHSC have made a foundational discovery about chromosome biology through their work on the first-ever human pangenome reference. The draft pangenome uses complete genome assemblies to provide a diverse look at the genetic makeup of humans, shedding light on variation in parts of the genome that could not be seen before.

UW Medicine scientists among leads of NIH pangenome studies

The Human Pangenome Reference Consortium expands and updates the human genome project with nearly full genomic data from 47 people of diverse ancestry. Researchers at UW Medicine made significant contributions to drafting the pangenome reference and studying variation within repetitive DNA, which could improve equity in human genome re...

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 10, 2023

Genome analysis just got personal

Researchers have created a new tool, EN-TEx, to analyze genetic mutations and predict disease risk. The catalog of allele-specific variants provides rich data for accurate personal genomics, enabling scientists to study the effects of genetic mutations in tissues that are difficult to obtain without surgery.

Genomic study of ancient humans sheds light on human evolution on the Tibetan Plateau

A genomic study of ancient humans on the Tibetan Plateau reveals a single origin for ancient humans, deriving from a northern East Asian population. The study also found distinct genetic patterns in different regions of the plateau, indicating three regional groups with unique historical patterns that began to merge after 2500 BP.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 17, 2023

Deer carry SARS-CoV-2 variants that are extinct in humans

A study found white-tailed deer are harboring SARS-CoV-2 variants that were once widely circulated but no longer found in humans. The deer may have become infected through contact with humans, and the virus has adapted to the deer population, potentially making it more transmissible between them.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 31, 2023

Researchers expand and upgrade the 1000 Genomes Project resource using high-coverage whole-genome sequencing and improved analytic approaches

The expanded 1000 Genomes Project resource now includes nearly all parent-child trios alongside the original samples, sequenced at high coverage using Illumina NovaSeq instruments. This comprehensive analysis presents significant improvements in variant calls, especially among rare SNVs, INDELs, and SVs.

SourceNew York Genome Center·JournalCell·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 1, 2022