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Great information on the FDA's Whole Genome Sequencing Program

Genetics Researchers at UC Davis and the University of British Columbia have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed. Working with placentas, the team discovered that 37 percent of the placental genome has regions of lower methylation, called partially methylated domains (PMDs), in which gene expression is turned off. Studying of the placenta is particularly interesting because the placenta has invasive characteristics associated with cancer. Increasing our knowledge about PMDs can help determine which genes are silenced and where specific DNA originated.

The NSP4 protein is a multifunctional protein that plays a role in the morphogenesis and pathogenesis of the rotavirus, but studies continue to show the relationship between gastroenteritis severity and amino acid variations in the genome of NSP4 of the human rotavirus remains uncertain. Focus paper for presentation.

Researchers have been able to reconstruct the genome sequence of a bacterial strain which bypasses the need for growing bacteria in the lab. This could stop an outbreak in its tracks due to the increased speed of identifying the bacteria.

kind of creepy to think about....

A better understanding of DNA structure, as well as other factors at the molecular level, have tremendous clinical implications. A personalized inhibitory mechanism for proliferating cancer cells looks like a promising approach for cancer treatments.