Category Archives: Genetics

The three year project is part of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developments (DPIRD) Northern Beef Development initiative to assist the Western Australian industry to become more profitable, resilient and sustainable.

DPIRD development officer Rebecca Butcher said the project would work with pastoralists to gather intelligence, share experiences and extend learnings about the use of genetic selection data to drive breeding objectives.

There has been varying use of genetic evaluation and management tools, like Estimated Breeding Values, known as EBVs, in the industry for some time to inform herd breeding programs, she said.

This project will harness that knowledge to get a better understanding of the needs of the production system and how breeding traits, like growth rates, carcase weight and fertility, and heritability can be better integrated to refine breeding programs.

DPIRD has contracted established livestock genetics consultants Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), a joint venture between New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, to deliver the project.

Six Kimberley and seven Pilbara pastoral stations have already signed up to participate in the project, while there is still opportunity for more to join.

Ms Butcher said it was important for pastoralists to make informed decisions when purchasing bulls, which could generate substantial gains to pastoral enterprises.

Bull selection is the single most important factor affecting herd productivity and profitability, she said.

With pastoralists paying $6000 to $8000 for a good bull or up to $60,000 in some cases it is imperative that money is well spent on an animal that has economically important production traits that advance the businesses breeding objectives.

DPIRDs Northern Beef development officers and the AGBU team will discuss the use of EBVs with participating Kimberley and Pilbara pastoralists and how they could be refined to benefit their operation.

The intelligence will be used to develop tailored selection indexes for northern beef producers aimed at cattle destined for the live export market, as well as the emerging north-south supply chain.

The selection indexes will be developed using the BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation system developed for Australian beef cattle breeders.

Future workshops and field days are planned in coming months to share information and experiences.

To participate in DPIRDs Genetics and Breeding project email rebecca.butcher@dpird.wa.gov.au or telephone (08) 9651 0540.

For more information on DPIRDs Northern Beef Development initiative visit http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/northern-beef-development.

Picture caption: DPIRD development officer Rebecca Butcher is involved in a new Northern Beef genetic improvement project to boost the efficiency and marketability of the northern cattle herd.

Read the original here:
Genetics project to lift performance of northern cattle herd - Government of Western Australia

Bollywood's newest action star Tiger Shroff shared a picture of his father Jackie Shroff and penned a heartfelt message to mark the occasion of Father's Day. The 'Heropanti' actor took to his Instagram handle and posted a jaw-dropping picture of Jackie Shroff where he can be seen wearing casual outfits with a pair of sunglasses and a watch. He can be seen flaunting his chiselled biceps.

He captioned the post by writing a heartfelt message that read, "Happy Fathers day to the best dad ever so lucky to have you and your genetics." As soon as she shared the post, Bollywood celebrities showered love on Jackie in the comments sections.

Siddhant Chaturvedi dropped a smiling face with heart eyes while Anil Kapoor wrote, "The best dad and best friend too." Arjun Rampal praised Jackie for his chiselled physique, he wrote, "Kya baat hain Jackie Da ripped."

Meanwhile, on the work front, Tiger has wrapped up the shoot of his new film 'Ganpath'. After an arduous schedule in Ladakh, the actor will now begin preparations for his next film, titled 'Rambo', followed by 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' alongside Akshay Kumar. 'Ganpath' will be hit the theatres on December 23, 2022. (ANI)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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'So lucky to have you and your genetics', Tiger Shroff wishes his dad on Father's Day - Devdiscourse

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10 traits you may not know can be tied to genetics - The Albany Herald

Marine biologists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have created a line of sea urchins whose genetic makeup is fully mapped and can be edited to study human disease genes. The creation of these new research model organisms will accelerate the pace of marine biomedical research.

Sea urchins, like fruit flies or lab rats, have been an organism used in research for more than a century. Even before this breakthrough, sea urchins led to the discovery of a protein family known as cyclins that guides division of cells. That knowledge went on to become the basis of current cancer treatments and earned cyclins discoverers a Nobel Prize.

Now Scripps marine biologist Amro Hamdoun and colleagues have taken this research to a new level by developing lines of sea urchins that can be used as genetic models using the gene editing technology known as CRISPR. The modified sea urchins are derived from the fast-growing species, Lytechinus pictus, also known as the painted sea urchin.

The team describes its results June 6 in the journal Development.

Hamdoun said the new sea urchins could serve as a new workhorse organism in marine biomedical research, capable of being cultivated to adulthood in four to six months at room temperature. Presently many species of sea urchins are used around the world to study the developmental origins of diseases, and the effects of pollutants on human and marine health. But few can be grown in the lab and genetically modified like other lab animals. Having this new genetically enabled urchin could dramatically enhance the efficiency, reproducibility, and utility of those studies.

Sea urchins have long been a favorite model organism for marine biologists, but they have been bottlenecked by not having stable genetics, Hamdoun said. This work breaks that final barrier. This genetically enabled urchin will be an important resource for the large community of researchers who use urchins in their labs.

The research was an unexpected silver lining from the COVID pandemic which impacted operations in research labs around the country for more than two years. In the case of Hamdouns lab, team members developed a sense of mission that motivated them to continue with the work.

It gave us something positive to focus on, Hamdoun said. The team spent two years intently focused on solving the barriers to making a genetically enabled sea urchin. Once we figured out how to make the precise modifications we wanted, we next had to figure out how to efficiently culture the urchins and select the modified animals. It is a real testament to the groups dedication that they accomplished this despite the adverse circumstances. I like to think that while many people were home growing cool things like houseplants or sourdough starters, we were also growing something interesting, but it was a biomedical research animal.

Besides Hamdoun, co-authors of the study included Himanshu Vyas, Jose Espinoza, Catherine Schrankel, Kasey Mitchell, Katherine Nesbit, Elliot Jackson, Nathan Chang, Yoon Lee, and Deirdre Lyons of Scripps Oceanography as well as researchers from University of North Carolina Charlotte and Wilmington campuses.

The National Institutes of Health Program on Oceans and Human Health and the National Science Foundation funded the research.

Link:
Genetics Breakthrough in Sea Urchins to Aid in Biomedical Research - Scripps Institution of Oceanography

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, has caused millions of infections worldwide. As time has passed, it has become increasingly clear that COVID-19 is not a cookie-cutter disease.

People vary significantly in their susceptibility to infection, symptoms, and disease severity. Certain risk factors clearly play a role. Could genetics also play a part?

Researchers are examining the role of genetics in peoples reactions to the virus. While far from conclusive, data indicates that some of your genes may influence how SARS-CoV-2 affects your health.

Read on to learn what research has uncovered.

To look for genes that may influence the impact of COVID-19, geneticists scan the DNA of large study groups. This helps them find and identify connections between specific DNA sequences and disease characteristics.

Early genetic studies have uncovered compelling clues that certain genomic variants and blood types may play a role in how people react to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors are proteins found on the surface of certain cells. ACE2 receptors generate other proteins that regulate cell function. ACE2 receptors also allow the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter your cells.

ACE2 receptors are located in the lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of the body. They help regulate blood pressure, wound healing, and inflammation.

Everyone has ACE2 receptors, but their amount and locations vary. Multiple studies, including a 2021 study reported in the European Journal of Medical Research, found a link between ACE2 levels and vulnerability to COVID-19.

The same study also found that people with a specific type of genetic variation in ACE2 are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Another finding was a heightened susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in men compared to women.

Cytokines are proteins released by cells. Cytokines help cells communicate with each other. They also work to regulate inflammation and the bodys immune response to infection.

A cytokine storm is an overreaction of the immune system to infection from an invading host, such as SARS-CoV-2. During a cytokine storm, your cells release too many cytokines. This causes high levels of inflammation and the overactivation of certain immune cells.

The results of a cytokine storm can be severe and include tissue damage, organ failure, and sometimes death.

A review of multiple studies found that several genetic variants in cytokine genes may be related to cytokine storm and disease severity. Studies also found that these variants might be related to COVID-19 complications, including venous thrombosis.

A large study analyzed genes found along a stretch of chromosome 3. The study found compelling information about specific genes and their potential impact on respiratory failure caused by COVID-19.

Researchers identified a gene cluster on chromosome 3 linked to susceptibility to respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients. According to researchers, the gene cluster confirmed that ABO blood type played a role, indicating a higher risk for respiratory failure from COVID-19 for people with type A blood.

The HLA gene helps regulate your bodys immune response. Decades of research have found that people with certain HLA alleles (slight gene mutations, or variations) are prone to various autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant diseases. Scientists call this phenomenon HLA disease association.

A 2021 review found that people with certain HLA alleles were more vulnerable to COVID-19 and severe illness than the general population.

If you were assigned male at birth, you might be at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19. While some data points to lifestyle factors more common in men (such as smoking or drinking alcohol), genetic factors are also at play.

Men tend to express higher amounts of ACE2, making them more susceptible to COVID-19. A 2021 study suggests that this alone doesnt account for the difference in response.

The study also highlights genes present in men that might make them more prone to infection and genes present in women that may help them fight off infection.

There are also genes on the X-chromosome that influence your immune response. There are about 55 times as many of these genes on the X-chromosome as on the Y-chromosome.

As men only have one copy of the X-chromosome, variants in genes on this chromosome may have a greater effect on how COVID-19 progresses.

Its also important to remember that genetic traits are sometimes clustered among people with the same nationality, ethnicity, or culture. This can skew study results, especially in places where poor living conditions or poverty are factors.

Still, three 2021 studies (1, 2, 3) state that we cant ignore ethnic differences in COVID-19 susceptibility. Some genes that influence the course of COVID-19, such as HLA alleles, are more prevalent in certain ethnicities.

Another study noted that Black people tend to have more variations in the genes that affect ACE2.

Again, more research is needed before we fully understand the true impact.

COVID-19 is known to present with a wide variety of symptoms. While some symptoms are common, the virus tends to affect people in many different ways. Your genetics may play a role here too.

A 2021 study linked COVID-19 with altered gene expression in specific tissues or cells. This suggests that certain genetic variations may make you more likely to experience certain symptoms.

The study also noted that some of the genes they studied were also linked to ethnicity. This means that some symptoms may be more common in certain ethnic groups.

Researchers and geneticists are sharing their findings on genetics and COVID-19 through the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative.

As more studies take place, the biological pathways that affect your susceptibility or natural immunity to this disease may become more apparent.

This research may help generate new types of drugs that can treat COVID-19. It may also help determine why some people have a severe reaction to infection, and others experience mild to no symptoms.

While exciting and compelling, its important to remember that the research on genetics and COVID-19 is still new. We need more research before we can fully understand the impact of genes on this disease.

Knowing your risk factors can help you make decisions concerning exposure to the virus. Risk factors for COVID-19 and severe symptoms include:

No gene makes you fully immune to COVID-19. No matter what your own risk may be, these measures can help protect you from infection:

A growing body of evidence has linked certain genes and gene mutations to COVID-19 susceptibility. While compelling, this information is still new. We need more research to fully understand how our genes affect our response to the coronavirus.

As this body of science grows, it may better inform us on how to treat or even prevent COVID-19.

Read more:
Genetic Susceptibility to COVID-19: What We Know So Far - Healthline

By Lauren Sausser | Kaiser Health News | Word In Black

(WIB) Quenton Tompkins family tree is deeply rooted in rural McCormick County, South Carolina.

His grandfather was a sharecropper in McCormick. His mother, who turns 88 this month, grew up as the youngest of 24 children. Branches of aunts, uncles, and cousins now stretch from Florida to Chicago.

And although 48-year-old Tompkins has heard plenty of stories, his family holds its secrets, too.

He didnt know until he was an adult that his grandfather died of leukemia. And hes still unsure if his fathers bout with prostate cancer runs in the family. Tompkins mother and her siblings have dealt with a range of health issues, including diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, but he still doesnt know what killed his grandmother more than 70 years ago.

Those are questions I go through personally, said Tompkins,a lobbyistfor the Medical University of South Carolina. Theres another side to knowing where you come from.

Twenty-two years ago, PresidentBill Clinton announcedthe completion of adraft versionof the Human Genome Project, a breakthrough he described as the language in which God created life. He predicted that scientists, armed with genetics discoveries, would find cures for Alzheimers disease, cancer, Parkinsons disease, and diabetes in the coming years.

Clintons prediction, of course, hasnt yet come to pass. But researchers in Charleston are hopeful that a large genetics research project underway across South Carolina may help scientists address some of the states persistent health disparities, which disproportionately impact its Black residents and regularly rank among the nations worst.

Its not only history feeding medical distrust. Bias and racism evident in medicine today contribute to the problem.

The university health system intends to enroll 100,000 of South Carolinas 5 million residents in genetic testing over the next four years in hopes of better understanding how DNA influences health. Researchers also want to recruit participants who reflect the diversity of the states population.

Its an ambitious goal. With nearly 27% of South Carolina residents identifying as Black or African American, the MUSC genetics research project, calledIn Our DNA SC,would ifsuccessful accomplish something most other genetics research projects have failed to do. Historically, diverse participation in this type of research has been very low.

Theres a trust factor. Its plain and simple, said Tompkins, who is developing an outreach program for the project. He referencedHenrietta Lacks, a Black woman in Baltimore whose cells were used without her or her familys knowledge for research purposes by doctors at Johns Hopkins University in the 1950s, and theTuskegee syphilis study, conducted over nearly 40 years starting in the 1930s. Researchers deceived hundreds of Black men enrolled in the study, telling them they were being treated for syphilis when, in fact, they were left untreated, even after penicillin became widely available.

Those are still fresh in many peoples minds, Tompkins said. Weve come a long way from those stories it doesnt dismiss what happened but there are a lot more controls and oversight in place to ward those things off from happening again. But its not only history feeding this distrust.Bias and racism evident in medicine todaycontribute to the problem.

Diversity in genetics research is so low that approximately 90% of participants in projects launched since the first sequencing of the human genome have been individuals of European descent or those who identify as white, saidDr. Shoa Clarke, a pediatric cardiologist and geneticist at Stanford University.

Genetics is not the cause of health disparities. But as we move toward using genetics in clinical settings, its very possible they could create new disparities.

These numbers affect real-life health care. Clarke and otherspublished researchlast year showing that a DNA-based tool used to assess a patients risk of developing high cholesterol works reliably well only when administered to those of Northern European descent. Thats because the tool was developed using information from genetic bio-banks largely made up of DNA from white people. And aside froma large DNA bankcompiled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this is generally the norm.

Human beings, regardless of race, are more than 99% genetically identical, but small variations and mutations passed down through generations can influence health outcomes in huge ways, Clarke explained.

Genetics is not the cause of health disparities, he said. But as we move toward using genetics in clinical settings, its very possible they could create new disparities.

In South Carolina, health disparities between Black and white patients are already acute, saidMarvella Ford, a researcher at MUSCs Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston.

South Carolina compared to the rest of the country were usually in the bottom tier, Ford said. Theprostate cancer mortality ratein South Carolina, for example, is two and a half times higher for Black men than white men, she said.

When you look at most other chronic conditions, she said, you see the same thing.

She called the genetics project at MUSC a great opportunity to open the doors. Even so, the topic of recruiting Black research participants for genetics studies is complex. Theres debate on how we should be doing this work, saidShawneequa Callier, an attorney and an associate professor of bioethics at George Washington University. Theres just so much diversity in Africa. Its the cradle of humanity.

Categorizing genetics research participants simply as Black or African American, without more context, may not yield particularly useful research insights.

Men and women transported to Charleston and other American port cities during the transatlantic slave trade came from a wide region of Africa mostly from West Central Africa, but in large numbers from regions farther north, too. Once in America, they were often separated and forced hundreds of miles apart. This explains why someone whose ancestors lived on one of South Carolinas barrier islands may have inherited different genetic variants than someone from a multigenerational Black family inland in McCormick County, just north of Augusta, Georgia.

Thats also why categorizing genetics research participants simply as Black or African American, without more context, may not yield particularly useful research insights, Callier said.

If you dont study the data and study it well, thats a real dereliction of ethical duty, Callier said.

Those who choose to participate in the MUSC project stand to benefit from it directly, its organizers said. After submitting a saliva sample, each participant will receive a report indicating if they have one or more of three genetic conditions that may put them at a higher risk for heart disease and certain cancers such as one of theBRCA mutationslinked to breast cancer. If they test positive for one of these conditions, they will be connected at no cost to a genetics counselor, who can assist with information and treatment options related to a patients inherited risks. Participants will also learn where their ancestors likely lived.

The de-identified DNA data will then be used by researchers at MUSC, as well as those at Helix, a private California-based genomics company, which will process the saliva samples and extract the genetic information from each participants sample. Researchers at MUSC and Helix have indicated they hope to use the results to better figure out how DNA affects population health. Heather Woolwine, an MUSC spokesperson, said the project will cost $15 million, some of which will be paid to Helix. Hospital revenue will fund the research, she said.

You have to build those relationships and find community champions that can help you open doors and gather people.

Tompkins expects to receive a lot of questions about how it all will work. But hes used to questions. He said he encountered much of the same hesitancy when he helped set up MUSC covid testing and vaccine sites across the state. Many people regardless of race worried microchips or tracking technology had been embedded into the covid vaccines, he said.

Tompkins found that the key to persuading residents in rural parts of the state to consider the covid vaccine was to seek out invitations from trusted, local leaders, then set up events with them. South Carolinas covid vaccination rate remains lower than the national average, but Tompkins said some skeptics have been more receptive to MUSCs message because the hospital system has focused on building relationships with organizers outside Charleston. He hopes to use those relationships to spread word about the new genetics research project.

You have to build those relationships and find community champions that can help you open doors and gather people, he said. Then, its about letting them choose.

KHN(Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation).KFFis an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Related

Read more here:
Addressing the Trust Factor: South Carolina Researchers Tackle Health Disparities Via Genetics - Sacramento Observer

Bionano Genomics

The Long String VANTAGE for DNA isolation, a collaborative development between Bionano and Hamilton, and the worlds first automation solution for Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) extraction used in optical genome mapping (OGM), will be on display at the conference

A corporate satellite presentation by Dr. Detlef Trost, Laboratoire CERBA, and Dr. Alexander Hoischen, Radboud UMC, will cover the latest research on OGM for rare undiagnosed genetic disease (RUGD) discovery

Three featured scientific presentations, one each by Dr. Claudia Carvalho, Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Dr. LalaEl Khattabi, Hpital Cochin, and Dr. Kornelia Neveling, Radboud UMC, will cover the use of OGM in research on complex genomic rearrangement structures, characterization of structural variations (SVs), and on repeat expansion disorder testing, respectively

9 scientific poster presentations and e-posters will illustrate the application of Bionanos OGM solutions in constitutional disorders and RUGD diagnosis

SAN DIEGO, June 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) today announced its participation at theEuropean Society of Human Genetics (ESHG) 2022 Conference, with 13 scientific and poster presentations highlighting the application of OGM across rare undiagnosed genetic disease and genetic disorders. Additionally, Bionano and Hamilton will present the Long String VANTAGE, the worlds first automation solution for UHMW extraction used in OGM.

ESHG is an annual conference that brings together industry and academic professionals to discuss new technologies and advances in the field of human genetics. ESHG sessions will take placeJune 11-14, 2022 virtually and in Vienna, Austria.

Bionano and Hamilton jointly announced the Long String VANTAGE, which is the first Assay Ready Workstation solution in Hamiltons Long String Genomics product program which supports extraction of UHMW DNA at increased scale. Attendees at ESHG will be able to learn more about the Long String VANTAGE at both companies booths and can experience a demonstration of the workflow at Hamiltons booth throughout the conference.

Story continues

As part of a corporate satellite presentation, Dr. Detlef Trost from Laboratoire CERBA, and Dr. Alexander Hoischen from Radboud UMC, will share their latest research on OGM for RUGD.

Three genomics researchers will participate in separate featured scientific presentations, highlighting use of OGM in genetic disorder testing. Dr. Claudia Carvalho of the Pacific Northwest Research Institute will present on complex genomic rearrangement structures (CGRs) in neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. LalaEl Khattabi will present on a recent study highlighting the OGM in the characterization of complex SVs. Dr. Kornelia Neveling from Radboud UMC will present on repeat expansion disorder testing using OGM.

Scientific presentations and poster sessions from Bionano and customers include:

Room

Title

Presenter

Presented

ACV, Room G, Level-2

See More, Know More: How OGM Provides Answers for Rare Undiagnosed Genetic Disease

Trost D., Hoischen A., Delpu Y.

June 11, 202210:00-11:30 CEST

Hall E-2, Concurrent Symposia S05

S05.2: Identification of Complex Genomic Rearrangement Structures in Disease

Carvalho C.

June 12, 20228:30-10:00 CEST

Hall E2-Workshop: Whats New in Cytogenomics?

W12: Optical Genome Mapping Enables Next-Generation Cytogenetics

El Khattabi L.

June 13, 202214:00-15:30 CEST

Hall E2- Concurrent Sessions C27

C27.3: Optical Genome Mapping for Repeat Expansion Disorder Testing

Neveling K.

June 14, 202211:00-12:30 CEST

Poster

Title

Author

Presented

P15.004.A

Structural and copy number variant detection, filtering, annotation, and classification by optical genome mapping in constitutional disorders

Delpu Y.

Poster Session June 12, 202213:00-14:00 CEST

P11.010.A

FSHD analysis pipeline by Bionano optical genome mapping: A field report

Heinrich U.

Poster Session June 12, 202213:00-14:00 CEST

P13.107.A

An insertion in the MSH2 gene detected by Bionano optical mapping and confirmed by Nanopore sequencing in a family with suspected Lynch Syndrome

Aalkken R.

Poster Session June 12, 202213:00-14:00 CEST

P09.027.C

Optical genome mapping analysis of FMR1 expansions in fragile X syndrome and multi-site validation

Venier A.

Poster Session June 13, 202212:45-13:45 CEST

P15.003.D

Comparative benchmarking of optical genome mapping and chromosomal microarray reveals high technological concordance in CNV identification and structural variant refinement

Jaber D.

Poster Session June 13, 202215:45-16:45 CEST

P16.020.D

Optical genome mapping in routine human genetic diagnostics: Lessons learned

Dremsek P.

Poster Session June 13, 202215:45-16:45 CEST

P16.032.D

Optical Genome Mapping as a diagnostic tool in cases of unresolved rare diseases

Trost D.

Poster Session June 13, 202215:45-16:45 CEST

EP15.018

A paracentric inversion that disrupts the SHANK2 gene resolved using cytogenomics

Huyghebaert J.

E-Poster

EP15.002

Recurrent constitutional chromosome five inversion revisited

Doco-Fenzy M.

E-Poster

More details on the conference can be found here.

We are thrilled to see the broad range of presentations featuring OGM at ESHG this year. These institutions and their research teams have conducted innovative research to help demonstrate the potential utility of OGM as a more sensitive, faster and less expensive alternative to traditional cytogenetics methods, commented Erik Holmlin, president and chief executive officer of Bionano. We are also excited for attendees to learn more about our collaboration with Hamilton and the Long String VANTAGE automation system. We believe this innovation can significantly reduce time to results, reduce hands on time and improve OGM performance by standardizing the process of UHMW DNA isolation, and we look forward to sharing more at ESHG.

About Bionano Genomics

Bionano Genomics is a provider of genome analysis solutions that can enable researchers and clinicians to reveal answers to challenging questions in biology and medicine. The Companys mission is to transform the way the world seesthe genome through OGM solutions, diagnostic services and software. The Company offers OGM solutions for applications across basic, translational and clinical research. Through its Lineagen business, the Company also provides diagnostic testing forpatients with clinical presentations consistent with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. Through its BioDiscovery business, the Companyalso offers an industry-leading, platform-agnostic software solution, which integratesnext-generation sequencing and microarray data designed to provide analysis, visualization, interpretation and reporting of copy number variants, single-nucleotide variants and absence of heterozygosity across the genome in one consolidated view.For more information, visit http://www.bionanogenomics.com, http://www.lineagen.comor http://www.biodiscovery.com

Forward-Looking Statements of Bionano Genomics

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as believe, potential, can, will, and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, the potential contribution of our OGM solutions to offer the anticipated benefits for and contributions to the areas reported in the presentations given and posters made available at the ESHG Annual Meeting; anticipated benefits and improvements resulting from the use of Long String VANTAGE to reliably and consistently isolate high quality and sufficient quantity of UHMW DNA for use with OGM . Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive technologies or improvements to existing technologies; the ability of our OGM solutions to offer the anticipated benefits for and contributions to the areas of research reported in the presentations given and posters made available at the ESHG Annual Meeting; future study results contradicting the results reported in the presentations given and posters made available at the ESHG Annual Meeting; the ability of Long String VANTAGE system to reliably and consistently isolate high quality and sufficient quantity of UHMW DNA for use with OGM; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the ability of medical and research institutions to obtain funding to support adoption or continued use of our technologies; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on managements assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

CONTACTSCompany Contact:Erik Holmlin, CEOBionano Genomics, Inc.+1 (858) 888-7610eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com

Investor Relations:Amy ConradJuniper Point+1 (858) 366-3243amy@juniper-point.com

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Bionano Genomics Announces Participation at the European Society of Human Genetics Conference (ESHG) 2022 Featuring OGM Across a Broad Range of...

It has been more than two years since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout that time, for some people, the infections became more frequent and hit closer to home. Their friends contracted coronavirus, and sometimes their children, grandparents and most of their co-workers too. It seemed to be only a matter of time before they would contract the virus as well but their luck never ran out it seems as if some people have never been knowingly infected with COVID-19 in over two years even after the wave of infections caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant.

If you ask them the reason, you'll hear all sorts of suppositions. For example, regular long trips on the underground will build up your resistance by repeatedly exposing you to small viral loads.

"This hypothesis falls in the realm of speculation," says Dr. Ulf Dittmer, director of the Institute of Virology at Essen University Hospital in Germany.

Some people not previously infected attribute it to scrupulously following COVID-19 precautions. Others thank their lucky stars for not contracting the virus from a contact person who later tested positive or while they partied at a club. Still, others wonder if they had an asymptomatic infection that wasn't detected, for instance before testing was widely available. Or maybe they did have symptoms but tested negative because the sample was collected improperly or the timing was inopportune.

Scientific attempts at an explanation go deeper, but there's no single definitive answer as to why some people still haven't caught COVID-19. A combination of factors could be the reason.

"A number of hypotheses appear plausible," says Dr. Leif Erik Sander, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine at Charit University Hospital in Berlin.

First of all, it's important to bear in mind that a significant number of COVID-19 infections go largely or completely unnoticed. In a systematic review and meta-analysis published late last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, the authors noted that about 40% of people with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis were asymptomatic at the time of the test. The finding was based on 95 international studies involving nearly 30 million people.

The frequency of testing obviously plays a role in detecting infections. If you're not tested regularly, there's a greater chance you won't become aware of a mild or asymptomatic infection.

And your genes can play a role too in whether or not you get COVID-19.

"There are people who, owing to genetic characteristics, can't easily be infected with malaria or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), for instance. In certain gradations this will also be true of Sars-CoV-2," says Sander, adding that the genetic factors aren't completely understood, however.

As virologist Dittmer explains, human leukocyte antigens (HLA) molecules, which are encoded by a complex of genes, play an important part in the body's immune response to pathogens such as Sars-CoV-2. He adds that a person's blood group, too, not only influences disease severity but perhaps also susceptibility to infection with the virus.

The protection provided by vaccinations is probably often underestimated. Although levels of antibodies in your blood able to bind to and neutralize invading coronaviruses decline some time after injection with a vaccine, "protection nevertheless remains significant for months," Sander says. "That, too, reduces infections."

Immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines vary from person to person. "If the response is especially good, vaccination in combination with a previous infection with one of the four endemic common cold coronaviruses can also play a role," he suggests.

According to Dittmer, a particular subclass of antibodies has been found to provide especially good protection from a novel coronavirus infection. "Measuring them is complicated though, so for the time being no one will know whether they've got these antibodies or not," he says.

The fact that children who get COVID-19 tend to have either no or only mild symptoms is down to their generally having an innate immune response that's stronger than the immune response of adults, according to Sander. It's often "preactivated," so to say.

Another phenomenon worth mentioning is that for a few days after getting an infection, people are typically less susceptible to infection with another pathogen. "This is due in part to interferons, which are defensive proteins in mucous membranes that also reduce susceptibility to Sars-CoV-2 in the event of contact with it in that time window," Sander says.

He also notes that some people's immune system may rid their body of the virus very quickly: "In a Swedish study, researchers detected specific T-cells (a type of white blood cell that's part of the immune system) in people who didn't test positive after contact with infected household members a sign their immune system had indeed engaged Sars-CoV-2 even though an infection or antibodies against the virus weren't always detectable."

So what are we to conclude? If you think you've somehow managed to skirt a COVID-19 infection, you may already have one behind you. Or you may have benefited from certain temporary circumstances, as-yet-unexplained genetic factors and/or dumb luck.

"Just because you haven't had COVID-19 yet doesn't mean you're permanently safe," Sander warns. "A new coronavirus variant, or a different set of circumstances, can totally change that."

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The report studies the industry insights and examines how the next normal will look like. It is critical for the companies aspiring to grow. It is aimed at equipping investors, policymakers, well-established firms, start-up businesses, and other interested market participants with the information they need to understand about the Global Animal Genetics Market, providing a detailed market overview, Global Animal Genetics Market, and exploring key areas of the Global Animal Genetics Market. This report will aid market participants in identifying where and how to invest in the market, enabling them to analyze relevant Global Animal Genetics Market segments. The report looks at the risks and market opportunities along the Global Animal Genetics Market value chain, country-specific regulatory framework and policies and other Global Animal Genetics Market influencers.

Key Players in the Animal Genetics market:Groupe Grimaud, Alta Genetics, Envigo, Topigs Norsvin, Zoetis, Genus Plc, EW Group GmbH, Neogen Corporation, CRV Holding B.V., Hendrix Genetics BV, VetGen, Animal Genetics, Inc.

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Around one in 500 men could be carrying an extra X or Y chromosome most of them unaware putting them at increased risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, say researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Exeter.

In a study published in Genetics in Medicine, researchers analysed genetic data collected on over 200,000 UK men aged 40-70 from UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource containing anonymised genetic, lifestyle and health information from half a million UK participants. They found 356 men who carried either an extra X chromosome or an extra Y chromosome.

Sex chromosomes determine our biological sex. Men typically have one X and one Y chromosome, while women have two Xs. However, some men also have an extra X or Y chromosome XXY or XYY.

Without a genetic test, it may not be immediately obvious. Men with extra X chromosomes are sometimes identified during investigations of delayed puberty and infertility; however, most are unaware that they have this condition. Men with an extra Y chromosome tend to be taller as boys and adults, but otherwise they have no distinctive physical features.

In todays study, the researchers identified 213 men with an extra X chromosome and 143 men with an extra Y chromosome. As the participants in UK Biobank tend to be healthier than the general population, this suggests that around one in 500 men may carry an extra X or Y chromosome.

Only a small minority of these men had a diagnosis of sex chromosome abnormality on their medical records or by self-report: fewer than one in four (23%) men with XXY and only one of the 143 XYY men (0.7%) had a known diagnosis.

By linking genetic data to routine health records, the team found that men with XXY have much higher chances of reproductive problems, including a three-fold higher risk of delayed puberty and a four-fold higher risk of being childless. These men also had significantly lower blood concentrations of testosterone, the natural male hormone. Men with XYY appeared to have a normal reproductive function.

Men with either XXY or XYY had higher risks of several other health conditions. They were three times more likely to have type 2 diabetes, six times more likely to develop venous thrombosis, three times as likely to experience pulmonary embolism, and four times more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The researchers say that it isnt clear why an extra chromosome should increase the risk or why the risks were so similar irrespective of which sex chromosome was duplicated.

Yajie Zhao, a PhD student at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the studys first author, said: Even though a significant number of men carry an extra sex chromosome, very few of them are likely to be aware of this. This extra chromosome means that they have substantially higher risks of a number of common metabolic, vascular, and respiratory diseases diseases that may be preventable.

Professor Ken Ong, also from the MRC Epidemiology Unit at Cambridge and joint senior author, added: Genetic testing can detect chromosomal abnormalities fairly easily, so it might be helpful if XXY and XYY were more widely tested for in men who present to their doctor with a relevant health concern.

Wed need more research to assess whether there is additional value in wider screening for unusual chromosomes in the general population, but this could potentially lead to early interventions to help them avoid the related diseases.

Professor Anna Murray, at the University of Exeter, said: Our study is important because it starts from the genetics and tells us about the potential health impacts of having an extra sex chromosome in an older population, without being biased by only testing men with certain features as has often been done in the past.

Previous studies have found that around one in 1,000 females have an additional X chromosome, which can result in delayed language development and accelerated growth until puberty, as well as lower IQ levels compared to their peers.

The research was funded by the Medical Research Council.

ReferenceZhao, Y. et al. Detection and characterisation of male sex chromosome abnormalities in the UK Biobank study. Genetics in Medicine; 9 Jun 2022; DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.05.011

Genetics in Medicine

Data/statistical analysis

People

Detection and characterisation of male sex chromosome abnormalities in the UK Biobank study

9-Jun-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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One in 500 men carry extra sex chromosome, putting them at higher risk of several common diseases - EurekAlert