Month: November 2018
-
Long noncoding RNA identified as a key regulator of inflammation
Scientists have identified an RNA molecule with broad powers to regulate the body’s inflammatory response to infection and injury. Called lincRNA-Cox2, it belongs to a recently discovered, highly abundant class of RNAs whose functions are only beginning to be understood.The sequencing of the human genome revealed that only a small fraction of the DNA in…
-
Ancient DNA evidence reveals genetic exchanges between the Americas
International team reveals unexpected details about the peopling of Central and South America November 08, 2018 By Jennifer McNulty Unprecedented details about the story of the peopling of Central and South America have been revealed in a new study published in the journal Cell.The first analysis of high-quality ancient DNA data from Central and South America—from…
-
Immunotherapy and Pediatric Cancer
Cells are being created continuously in our bodies. Both good and bad cells. In the past century, many factors such as use of pesticides and other toxins have weakened our immune system. Our immune system is designed to seek out and destroy cancer cells, thus, creating an environment where our natural immune system cannot control…
-
Arctic ecology field course a memorable experience for students
They got cold and wet, slogged through mud and muck, were eaten alive by mosquitoes, and they all agreed it was one of the best experiences of their lives. Thirteen UC Santa Cruz undergraduates led by Beth Shapiro, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, traveled 2,800 miles through Alaska and the Yukon territory this summer,…
-
Who is genetic analysis for?, Postgenomic Condition Book Review
There are ethical reasons to think twice before sending off your DNA. Christian Century | Nov 2, 2018 | Justin List I remember wondering about how secure my DNA would be before I spat into a tube to be sent off for genetic analysis. Despite the risks, I thought I might learn something interesting about my…
-
Unexpected Diversity Found in 16 New Lab Mouse Genomes
The availability of new genomes for 16 diverse strains of laboratory mice will help accelerate research into the genetic underpinnings of human traits and diseases. Quanta Magazine | Oct 1, 2018 | Jonathan Lambert No animals have done more to help science unravel the complex genetics of human disease than laboratory mice. Their usefulness as…
-
Revealed: The birds in a groundbreaking ‘de-extinction’ gene editing experiment that could help bring dozens of species ‘back from the dead’
Passenger pigeons numbered up to five billion during the 19th Century The species went extinct in 1914 when its last surviving member died in a zoo Oddly, the birds’ abundance may have played a role in their extinction The pigeons evolved quickly and lost traits useful for surviving in smaller groups The birds were unable…
-
The chromatin of cancer
Science | Oct 26, 2018 | Jussi Taipale Developments in modern genomics tools have led to rapid progress in our understanding of the genetic basis of cancer. Recent large-scale efforts have primarily focused on two types of analysis: mapping acquired somatic mutations by whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing (1, 2), and identification of common inherited variants…