Category Archives: Genetics

Joo Pedro de Magalhes scours the human genome for clues that might help us understand why people age and what we might do to stop that. Without fail, each time hes done one of these studies, nearly every gene ends up having some kind of link to cancer.

Always, he said. You always have some cancer-related genes in there.

The University of Liverpool researcher started to wonder just how many human genes are associated with cancer, and set about doing an analysis of genetic papers on the online medical archive PubMed. Of the 17,371 human genes studied at one point or another in papers in the archive, the vast majority have some connection to cancer.

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I think for nearly 90% of genes for which there are publications, they mention cancer in at least one of those publications, de Magalhes said. That surprised me a bit. I think what it means is that people really study cancer more than anything else.

On the one hand, his findings published in a commentary Wednesday in Trends in Geneticsare a bit of an academic oddity. But on the other, de Magalhes believes the results might indicate a trend that is complicating sciences ability to tease out which genes are underpinning true drivers of cancer and which are just passengers.

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STAT spoke with de Magalhes about the trend and what it means for the future of genetic analyses in cancer. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

What were some of your first reactions to the analysis results?

I was surprised by how strong the effects are. Nearly 90% of genes are associated with cancer. Its like a tongue-in-cheek observation, you know? Like, hey, if you work on cancer, any gene is likely to be associated with cancer.

But there have also been people pointing out that when you analyze genetic networks, you need to control for the number of publications associated with any gene in order to gather therapeutic insights. So, if you do this type of analysis, youll have this bias that the vast majority of genes have already been associated with cancer.

Why does that make it more difficult to study cancer genetics?

The main challenge is that if youre trying to interpret results or trying to identify new drug targets in the context of cancer, you have too many genes associated with it. If every gene can be associated with cancer, then figuring out which cancer-related genes are driving different types of cancer and identifying the best biomarkers becomes challenging. It becomes a problem of how we prioritize and study the genetics of cancer.

Finding a simple association is enough to have a publication. Thats the problem. By and large, many associations with cancer are quite I dont know if weak is the right word. Theyre just correlations.

Funnily enough, I was talking about this work with a colleague and she said that something similar is happening for Covid now. A lot of people just finding associations because theres such a huge research effort on Covid-19.

How can scientists avoid some of the pitfalls you describe and improve the study of genetics then?

It means you have to be careful. Unless you have direct genetic evidence, you have to be careful of cancer associations, and I dont think most people do that. I would say Im guilty of that as well. Also, if you want to associate a gene with cancer, if you study it hard enough then you probably will. A lot of the associations can be spurious, I think, but people can take the opportunity to say, Hey, I found this gene. Its associated with cancer. We need money to study it.

That kind of sounds like a bad thing, but is it so bad? If everyone can wave this big flag and say, Hey, my gene is also associated with cancer, and it might be important, maybe that would help more people get funded to do basic science on random genes. Then who knows, maybe you actually do find something really important?

Thats a good question. I dont know! In an ideal world, wed have a lot more investment in research, and wed be able to study all sorts of associations. I guess my take is that funds are limited, so we have to prioritize the funding allocation in some way because you cannot study every gene, right? Some are more important than others.

So, how do we pick the right genes to study?

Its a gray area. Causal associations would be best. When theres mutations in patients that are predisposed to cancer, that would be evidence of a causal role not just some association. One thing weve done is look at the number of publications associating a particular gene with longevity, but you can do the same with cancer. Theres a bit of a subjective element here, too, though.

Do you think that the vast majority of genes have been linked to cancer reveals something about cancer? Like its reinforcing this idea that our genetic machinery gets old, makes mistakes, and then its cancer?

Yes, thats right. If you look at genome instability, it increases with age. You can see it has more predispositions and the number of mutations increases with age in human tissues as well. So, I see this as a factor predisposing you to cancer development.

Link:
The vast majority of genes have been tied to cancer, complicating research - STAT

If youre close enough to a bumblebee to see the order of its stripes, youre probably too close to it. But lucky for you, a team of geneticists recently did a more highfalutin version of that task, analyzing several species of bee to suss out what causes different species of the insect to get different patterns on their abdomens.

Previously, a specific developmental gene (Hox gene Abd-B) had been identified as somehow responsible for color variation in the animals rear ends. But beyond how that gene actually changed the colors, the bees were a black box. With the recent research, the team was able to pin down more of the exact genes involved in the process of pigmentation in the bees. Their research was published earlier this year in Genome Biology and Evolution.

Understanding these genes, we now have the potential to look at so many different bee species and how theyve diversified, said Heather Hines, an entomologist and geneticist at Penn State University and a co-author of the recent paper, in a university press release. So, its not a case that once we are finished here that were done. Given the diversity in these bees, theres just so much more that can be done with the discovery. This is just really the first step.

Many insects sport black-and-yellow backsides; some of them even develop the pattern to convince other species that theyre a more dangerous animal with the same markings, like a wasp. Sometimes two well-armed animals develop similar markings. Whatever the case for the copy-catting, these pretenders of nature are called mimics.

Theres some mimicry thats local to the bumblebee community, and thats what the recent team was looking at: Whos copying who among the 260-odd species that display about 400 different patterns on bees abdomensliterally, their rear ends. (There are many thousands of bee species, but not as many bumblebee species.) They studied one species in particular: Bombus melanopygus, the black-tailed or orange-rumped bumblebee.

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To conduct the genetic analysis in a bee not commonly used in research, the team had to lean on the more well-known and utilized genomes of other animal species. Luckily, though, they werent scanning the entire length of genetic codes manually.

The use of high-performance computation power has made this type of research more manageable and reproducible, said lead author Sarthok Rahman, a biologist now at the University of Alabama, in the same release. Because its a non-model organism, we also have to use other genomic sources from Drosophila and mice, for example, to search the genes and assign the identity.

The team found that farther along the genetic code from previously identified Hox gene (a Hox gene being a type of developmental gene that regulates structures on animals bodies), a bunch of genes are responsible for different ratios of eumelanin and pheomelanin in the bees, the former which governs black pigmentation and the latter which handles red colors.

This really adds to non-model, evolutionary genetic research, which is a growing field and the field is also expanding to be more comparative, said Hines. As we move forward, researchers will be looking at how genes and gene pathways have evolved across a broader diversity of species.

Were not done with the bees. Hardly. They offer new insights into the coloration of the insect world, but the genetic code (even in bees) is not the most reader-friendly document. Lets just hope we can understand the animals coloration faster than we kill them off.

More: Yellow Dog Coats Came From an Ancient Canid That Split From Wolves Millions of Years Ago

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The Genetics Behind Bees' Black and Yellow Butts - Gizmodo

TEMPLE CITY, Calif., October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fulgent Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLGT) ("Fulgent Genetics" or the "company"), a technology-based genetic testing company focused on transforming patient care in oncology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health, today announced that it will release its third quarter 2021 financial results after the market closes on Tuesday November 9, 2021. The companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ming Hsieh, Chief Financial Officer Paul Kim, Chief Commercial Officer Brandon Perthuis, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Weiss will host a conference call for the investment community the same day at 4:30 PM ET (1:30 PM PT) to discuss the results and answer questions.

The call can be accessed through a live audio webcast in the Investors section of the companys website, http://ir.fulgentgenetics.com, and through a live conference call by dialing (800) 367-2403 using the confirmation code 3277675. An audio replay will be available in the Investors section of the companys website.

About Fulgent Genetics

Fulgent Genetics is a technology-based genetic testing company focused on transforming patient care in oncology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health. Fulgents proprietary technology platform has created a broad, flexible test menu and the ability to continually expand and improve its proprietary genetic reference library while maintaining accessible pricing, high accuracy, and competitive turnaround times. Combining next generation sequencing ("NGS") with its technology platform, the Company performs full-gene sequencing with deletion/duplication analysis in an array of panels that can be tailored to meet specific customer needs. A cornerstone of the Companys business is its ability to provide expansive options and flexibility for all clients unique testing needs through a comprehensive technology offering including cloud computing, pipeline services, record management, web portal services, clinical workflow, sequencing as a service and automated laboratory services.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005128/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact: The Blueshirt GroupNicole Borsje, 415-217-2633; nicole@blueshirtgroup.com

See more here:
Fulgent Genetics to Announce Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results on Tuesday November 9, 2021 - Yahoo Finance

Myriad Genetics: Pamela Wong

Myriad Genetics has appointed Pamela Wong as its chief legal officer. Wong previously worked for Quest Diagnostics for 14 years, most recently as assistant general counsel. Prior to Quest, she worked for eight years at Baker-McKenzie, where she was an intellectual property partner, and at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, a Ph.D. from Florida State University, and a J.D. from the University of San Diego.

Becton Dickinson: Carrie Byington

Becton Dickinson has named infectious diseases specialist Carrie Byington to its board of directors. Byington is executive VP and head ofUniversity of California Health.Prior to UCH, Byington held leadership roles at the Texas A&M University System, including serving concurrently as dean of the college of medicine and senior vice president of health sciences for Texas A&M University and vice chancellor for health services for the Texas A&M 11-campus system. She also spent more than 20 years in teaching and leadership positions with the University of Utah.

Delfi Diagnostics: Tim McDaniel,Monique Cadle, Tobias Mann

Delfi Diagnostics has hired Tim McDaniel as VP of tech development,Monique Cadle as VP of people, and Tobias Mann as VP of software engineering.

Prior to joining Delfi, McDaniel was the senior VP of emerging opportunities at TGen, where he oversaw Ashion Analytics through its acquisition by Exact Sciences earlier this year. Prior to TGen, he led programs at Illumina to develop the company's core next-generation sequencing reagents and other consumables. Cadle joined Delfi earlier this year, bringing 15 years of experience in people operations and management consulting, as well as nonprofit management at companies and nonprofits including Grail, Deloitte, the US Agency for International Development, and 23andMe. Mann joined Delfi over the summer from Adaptive Biotechnologies, where he was the VPof software engineering. Prior to that, he held roles at Progenity and Illumina, developing next-generation sequencing products and applications.

For additional recent items on executive appointments and promotions in omics and molecular diagnostics, please see the People in the News page on our website.

Original post:
People in the News: New Appointments at Myriad Genetics, Becton Dickinson, Delfi Diagnostics, More - GenomeWeb

Criticism has been mounting from activist investors over the leadership of GSK, which next year will be splitting off its consumer healthcare division, listing the majority of that business in London to allow it to focus purely on vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

Dame Emma will remain at the helm of that remaining business, with a new board established for the split-off consumer health arm.

However, this decision has come under fire from activist investors Elliott Management and Bluebell who have warned GSK needs more scientific names on its board.

The pair of activists have separately piled pressure on Dame Emma to reapply for her position as CEO of the remaining company, citing her lack of scientific experience.

GSK is one of the UK's two major pharmaceutical companies

Its move to add a top genetics professor to the board will be seen as a move to ward off the criticism. Dame Emma said the company already was "well above the median" for the sector even before the hire. "In fact, in terms of that expertise, we very much welcome diversity across the board."

Dame Emma addressed the pressure for GSK to kick off a recruitment process for the chief executive position at the pharmaceutical and vaccine business, saying: "Both in terms of my position and the board's position, that's been made extremely clear. There was a very deep and significant internal and external process run initially, and we are all extremely focused on the delivery of the plans we have."

Dame Emma is not alone in coming under fire from activist backers. Earlier this month, the chairman, Sir Jonathan Symonds, found himself in the crosshairs. He was urged to resign by Bluebell which said GSK needed a more radical change agenda.

Bluebell has also called for Glaxo to consider a sale of its consumer healthcare division instead of purusing a listing.

The updates came as GSK posted sales of 9.1bn for the three months to September 30, a 10pc rise on the prior year, boosted by a rebound in demand for its Shingrix vaccine for shingles.

Originally posted here:
GlaxoSmithKline raises outlook and appoints genetics expert to board - Telegraph.co.uk

The research study on the Global Animal Genetics Market report offers a complete quantitative and qualitative analysis of different industry aspects such as the market size and volume, cost structure, supply chain and logistics and capital. The Animal Genetics report analysis is supported by the data obtained from key market participants along with their granular assessment such as vendors, suppliers, producers and buyers. The Animal Genetics market report comprises of both customer and provider perspective stating the symbiotic relation and its impact on the market growth. The global Animal Genetics market report also provides a segmentation analysis including the fragmentation by product range, end-user applications and regions.

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Major objective of the Animal Genetics market study is to impart knowledge to business explorers to understand the Animal Genetics market growth during the forecast period. It also offers a competitive landscape defining the profiles of top players driving the Animal Genetics market growth. The study emphasizes on mergers and collaborations between the key players in order to explore the business expansion opportunities by building global connectivity. From a regional perspective, the global Animal Genetics market report provides segmentation the includes major revenue generators such as Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. The Animal Genetics market report studies the interconnected dynamics between the competitors on company basis and regional basis.

Top Leading Key Players are:

Envigo, Groupe Grimaud, Alta Genetics, NEOGEN CORPORATION and Hendrix Genetics.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Global Animal Genetics Market @ https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/animal-genetics-market?utm_source=prp20

In addition, the global Animal Genetics market report shares the macro-economic factors along with other influential drivers responsible for the anticipated growth during the forecast period. The Animal Genetics market report helps business experts and investors identify the target market and scope for growth. Increasing growth of the software industries added with advancement in technologies and adoption of AI in every sector are the major drives identified by the global Animal Genetics market research. Whereas, increasing market need and meeting the excessive demand is suggested to be the biggest challenge for the Animal Genetics industry. It also explains the impact of COVID-19 changing the Animal Genetics market dynamics.

The global Animal Genetics market report offers anticipated growth influenced by current trends and strategies implemented by the key players to overcome the challenges and restrains including the impact of COVID-19. The changing work lifestyle with increased GenZ preferences towards advanced systems is expected to boost the growth of the Animal Genetics market during the forecast period. According to the global Animal Genetics market report, emerging economies will open substantial opportunities and hence show higher growth rates owing to the increasing capital investments by larger and financially stable regions such as North America which poses higher technology and capital strength.

Global Animal Genetics market is segmented based by type, application and region.

Based on Type, the market has been segmented into:

By Procedure, (Genetic disease tests,Genetic trait tests,DNA typing), By Animal Type, (Equine,Canine,Bovine,Porcine,Poultry,Others)

Based on application, the market has been segmented into:

NA

Key questions answered in this report

1.What are the key market trends?2.What is driving this market?3.What are the challenges to market growth?4.Who are the key vendors in this market space?5.What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?6.What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

Investment in the Report: Key Reasons

A thorough evaluation and detailed assessment of global Animal Genetics market Tangible and significant alterations in influential dynamics A thorough assessment of market segmentation Upcoming market segments, regional diversification Past, current and crucial forecast analysis, details on volume and value projections An in-depth reference of frontline players Details on market share and overall value assessment, global Animal Genetics market A crystal-clear sectioning on best industry practices and list of major players as well as aspiring ones in global Animal Genetics market.

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Animal Genetics Market Reimagining Go-to-Market Strategies After the Pandemic with Envigo, Groupe Grimaud, Alta Genetics, NEOGEN CORPORATION and...

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (BNGO), developer of the Saphyr system that uses optical genome mapping (OGM) for the detection and analysis of structural variants (SVs), today announced the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) conference lineup of customer posters and presentations featuring OGM. The customer posters and presentations span genetic disease applications including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and postnatal, as well as cancer research applications including pediatric brain tumors and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The ASHG conference is being held virtually this year and runs from Monday, October 18, 2021 to Friday, October 22, 2021.

Talks featuring Bionano Genomics OGM solutions include research into how structural variation contributes to the cause of ALS; inverted genomic triplication structures; and a multi-site clinical validation study of constitutional postnatal SV, CNV and repeat array sizing, as well as findings of SVs in pediatric brain tumors, and epigenetics. Below is a list of customer presentations featuring OGM at this years ASHG conference.

OGM Application Area

Presenter

Affiliation

Presentation Title

Inherited Genetic Disorders

Dr. C.M. Grochowski

Baylor College of Medicine

Inverted genomic triplication structures: two breakpoint junctions, several possibilities

Dr. Emily McCann

Macquarie Univ. Ctr. for MND Research, Sydney, Australia

Development of a discovery pipeline for structural variation contributing to the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Dr. Nikhil Sahajpal

Agusta University, Praxisgenomics, University of Iowa Hospital

Optical Genome Mapping for Constitutional Postnatal SV, CNV, and Repeat Array Sizing: A Multisite Clinical Validation Study

Dr. Ravindra Kolhe

Augusta University

Large-Scale, Multi-site, Postnatal Studies on Optical Genome Mapping (OGM)

Hematological Malignancies

Dr. Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Optical Genome Mapping Improves the Clinically Relevant Structural Variant Detection in MDS

Dr. Gordana Raca

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Utilization of Optical Genome Mapping in Detection and Characterization of Rare Genetic Markers in Pediatric Leukemias

Solid Tumor Analysis

Dr. Miriam Bornhorst

Childrens National Hospital

Optical genome mapping reveals novel structural variants in pediatric brain tumors

Epigenetics Application

Dr. Surajit Bhattacharya

Childrens National Hospital

Utilization of Dual-Label Optical Genome Mapping for genetic/epigenetic diagnosis

We are delighted to see the broad range of presentations on OGM at ASHG this year, stated Erik Holmlin, PhD, CEO of Bionano Genomics. Our customers continue to push forward conducting cutting-edge research in the human genetics space and we are excited for them to share their research with the ASHG community. Congratulations to the authors on their work and the recognition that comes with delivering presentations at this important conference.

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For more details and to register for this online event please go to: https://www.ashg.org/meetings/2021meeting/

About Bionano Genomics

Bionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing; it also provides diagnostic testing for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through its Lineagen business. Bionanos Saphyr system is a research use only platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables scientists and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools. Bionano offers genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. Lineagen has been providing genetic testing services to families and their healthcare providers for more than nine years and has performed more than 65,000 tests for those with neurodevelopmental concerns. For more information, visit bionanogenomics.com or lineagen.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 may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend 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 timing and content of the posters and presentations regarding OGM to be presented at the ASHG conference. 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 accuracy of customer posters and presentations to be presented; observations from studies covered by the posters and presentations may not be replicated; 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, 2020 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

Media Relations:Michael SullivanSeismic+1 (503) 799-7520michael@teamseismic.com

Link:
Bionano Genomics Announces American Society of Human Genetics Presentations Featuring Optical Genome Mapping for Genetic Disease and Cancer Research...

Jomon teeth vs Native American teeth. Credit: G. Richard Scott, University of Nevada Reno

Latest scientific findings suggest the ancestral Native American population does not originate in Japan, as believed by many archaeologists.

A widely accepted theory of Native American origins coming from Japan has been attacked in a new scientific study, which shows that the genetics and skeletal biology simply does not match-up.

The findings, published on October 12, 2021, in the peer-reviewed journal PaleoAmerica, are likely to have a major impact on how we understand Indigenous Americans arrival to the Western Hemisphere.

Based on similarities in stone artifacts, many archaeologists currently believe that Indigenous Americans, or First Peoples, migrated to the Americas from Japan about 15,000 years ago.

It is thought they moved along the northern rim of the Pacific Ocean, which included the Bering Land Bridge, until they reached the northwest coast of North America.

From there the First Peoples fanned out across the interior parts of the continent and farther south, reaching the southern tip of South America within less than two thousand years.

The theory is based, in part, on similarities in stone tools made by the Jomon people (an early inhabitant of Japan, 15,000 years ago), and those found in some of the earliest known archaeological sites inhabited by ancient First Peoples.

But this new study, out today in PaleoAmerica the flagship journal of the Center for the Study of the First Americans at Texas A&M University suggests otherwise.

Carried out by one of the worlds foremost experts in the study of human teeth and a team of Ice-Age human genetics experts, the paper analyzed the biology and genetic coding of teeth samples from multiple continents and looked directly at the Jomon people.

We found that the human biology simply doesnt match up with the archaeological theory, states lead author Professor Richard Scott, a recognized expert in the study of human teeth, who led a team of multidisciplinary researchers.

We do not dispute the idea that ancient Native Americans arrived via the Northwest Pacific coastonly the theory that they originated with the Jomon people in Japan.

These people (the Jomon) who lived in Japan 15,000 years ago are an unlikely source for Indigenous Americans. Neither the skeletal biology nor the genetics indicate a connection between Japan and America. The most likely source of the Native American population appears to be Siberia.

In a career spanning almost half a century, Scott a professor of anthropology at the University of Nevada-Reno has traveled across the globe, collecting an enormous body of information on human teeth worldwide, both ancient and modern. He is the author of numerous scientific papers and several books on the subject.

This latest paper applied multivariate statistical techniques to a large sample of teeth from the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, showing that quantitative comparison of the teeth reveals little relationship between the Jomon people and Native Americans. In fact, only 7% of the teeth samples were linked to the non-Arctic Native Americans (recognized as the First Peoples).

And, the genetics show the same pattern as the teethlittle relationship between the Jomon people and Native Americans.

This is particularly clear in the distribution of maternal and paternal lineages, which do not overlap between the early Jomon and American populations, states co-author Professor Dennis ORourke, who was joined by fellow human geneticists and expert of the genetics of Indigenous Americans at the University of Kansas, Jennifer Raff.

Plus, recent studies of ancient DNA from Asia reveal that the two peoples split from a common ancestor at a much earlier time, adds Professor ORourke.

Together with their colleague and co-author Justin Tackney, ORourke and Raff reported the first analysis of ancient DNA from Ice-Age human remains in Alaska in 2016.

Other co-authors include specialists in Ice-Age archaeology and ecology.

Shortly before publication of the paper, two other new studies on related topics were released.

A new genetics paper on the modern Japanese population concluded that it represents three separate migrations into Japan, rather than two, as previously believed. It offered more support to the authors conclusions, however, about the lack of a biological relationship between the Jomon people and Indigenous Americans.

And, in late September, archaeologists reported in another paper the startling discovery of ancient footprints in New Mexico dating to 23,000 years ago, described as definitive evidence of people in North America before the Last Glacial Maximumbefore expanding glaciers probably cut off access from the Bering Land Bridge to the Western Hemisphere. It remains unclear who made the footprints and how they are related to living Native Americans, but the new paper provides no evidence that the latter are derived from Japan.

Professor Scott concludes that the Incipient Jomon population represents one of the least likely sources for Native American peoples of any of the non-African populations.

Limitations of the study include that available samples of both teeth and ancient DNA for the Jomon population are less than 10,000 years old, i.e., do not antedate the early Holocene (when the First Peoples are understood to arrive in America).

We assume, the authors explain however, that they are valid proxies for the Incipient Jomon population or the people who made stemmed points in Japan 16,00015,000 years ago.

Reference: Peopling the Americas: Not Out of Japan' by G. Richard Scott, Dennis H. ORourke, Jennifer A. Raff, Justin C. Tackney, Leslea J. Hlusko, Scott A. Elias, Lauriane Bourgeon, Olga Potapova, Elena Pavlova, Vladimir Pitulko and John F. Hoffecker, 13 October 2021, PaleoAmerica.DOI: 10.1080/20555563.2021.1940440

Here is the original post:
Genetics and Skeletal Biology Debunks Popular Theory of Native American Origins - SciTechDaily

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As a University of Victoria graduate student studying sea otters, Erin Foster spent many afternoons swimming through curtains of eelgrassa long ribbonlike plant that grows in underwater meadows. Herring spawn among the swaying grass, and smaller fish dart through the vegetation seeking shelter from hungry predators. Amid all this activity, sea otters scour the ocean floor for tasty clams and crabs. Eelgrass is what holds this ecosystem together, says Foster, who is now doing a postdoctorate with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Scientists have long understood that sea otters help maintain the health of kelp forests by curbing populations of voracious sea urchins. But a new study coauthored by Foster, who was supported by the Hakai Institute* throughout the research, shows that sea otters play an equally important role in eelgrass meadowsby shaping the genetics of the eelgrass itself.

While out in the field, Foster and her coauthor, Jane Watson, a biologist at Vancouver Island University in British Columbia, would frequently notice hundreds of little pits dotting the seafloor, creating bald spots in the otherwise dense eelgrass meadow. These gaps in the vegetation were the work of sea otters. While hunting for food, the sea otters were inadvertently digging up the eelgrass.

Watson had a hunch that by digging these pits, sea otters were shaping the meadow in an important way. Undisturbed, eelgrass primarily reproduces by cloning itself via rootlike rhizomes that sprout into new, genetically identical plants. While between roughly five and 10 percent of eelgrass shoots do flower and reproduce sexually, the resulting seedlings are often unable to compete with clones. Its not uncommon to see a meadow made up entirely or almost entirely of genetically identical eelgrass, Foster says. Disturbancesuch as a particularly forceful tide or a hungry sea otter tearing at eelgrass rhizomesforces eelgrass to flower at a much higher rate. New seedlings settle in the newly established gaps in the vegetation, and the meadow becomes more genetically diverse. Foster, Watson, and their colleagues wanted to know whether the sea otters were causing the eelgrass to shuffle its genes.

Pits dug by sea otters disturb eelgrass rhizomes, which spurs sexual reproduction of the eelgrass plants. Photo courtesy of the Hakai Institute

A century ago, the maritime fur trade largely wiped out sea otter populations along the west coast of North America. Reintroduction from the remaining pocket populations and rehabilitation efforts, as well as bans on hunting mean that sea otters have been able to rebound in some areas. The variability in sea otters growing populations gave the scientists a way to test their hypothesis. They collected eelgrass shoots from 15 different sites, six of which had been home to sea otters for at least 20 to 30 years, and three for less than 10 years. They also looked at six sites that had no sea otters and served as a control. The team highlighted 13 sections of eelgrass DNA, and analyzed how many varieties of each section they saw at each site.

The contrast was stark: eelgrasss genetic diversity at sites with long-established otter populations was up to 30 percent higher than at the sites without sea otters and those where the sea otters populations had only recently begun to rebuild.

Brent Hughes, a biologist at Sonoma State University in California who was not involved in this study, has spent much of his career studying how sea otters physically restructure their ecosystems. For him, the central question of the paper was revolutionary. This is a whole new lens, Hughes says. Sea otters are restructuring the genetics of the whole system.

This finding has important implications for the future of eelgrass in a rapidly changing world in which its threatened by warming waters, pollution, and disease throughout its range. If the one clone that spreads is weakened by disease or a grazer or pollution then the whole area is vulnerable, says Mary OConnor, an ecologist researching eelgrass at the University of British Columbia who was also not involved in the study. Genetic diversity ups the odds that at least one patch of grass will survive these stressors.

Researchers, Erin Foster and Jane Watson. Photo by Linda Nichol/Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Foster has reason to believe that a more diverse gene pool helped eelgrass survive past climatic change. The plant has evolved alongside sea otters for as long as 700,000 yearsenough time to have lived through multiple ice ages. Other megafaunal species, such as bottom-feeding grey whales, likely also encouraged the genetic diversity of these ecosystems in the past. To Foster, this suggests that eelgrass had enough diversity that it was able to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

The return of sea ottersand the protection they offer to eelgrass ecosystemsis in humanitys best interest, OConnor says. Not only is eelgrass vulnerable to changes in its climate but it also plays a role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Healthy eelgrass meadows draw carbon out of the ocean and the atmosphere. Like coral reefs and mangroves, they protect coastlines against rising sea levels and storm surges. And then, of course, theres the sheer beauty of an eelgrass meadow.

At first, it just looks like a bunch of grass, OConnor says. If you actually just hold still and stand there for a few minutes, you realize that the eelgrass is teeming with animal life.

* The Hakai Institute and Hakai Magazine are both part of the Tula Foundation. The magazine is editorially independent of the institute and foundation.

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Sea Otters Are Reshaping the Genetics of Eelgrass Meadows - Hakai Magazine

There are a number of genes that can cause a person to develop breast cancer. Some of these genes are inheritable, meaning they pass from parent to child. However, having the gene for breast cancer does not always mean a person develops it.

This article will go into detail about the role of genetics in breast cancer, whether breast cancer can skip a generation, and the next steps for a person who has a breast cancer gene.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that inherited genetic factors do not cause the majority of breast cancers. However, there are certain inherited genes that increase a persons chances of developing breast cancer.

A gene is a sequence of DNA that determines certain traits, such as eye or hair color. Genes are transmitted in pairs from biological parents to their child. A child inherits one copy from each parent. Sometimes, a child can inherit a gene with mutations, which means that the gene does not function correctly.

Approximately 510% of breast cancer cases in people are hereditary.

Learn more about breast cancer genes here.

Other forms of breast cancer can occur due to gradual changes in a persons DNA.

These forms of breast cancer, known as somatic mutations, are not due to inherited factors. Somatic mutations occur for a variety of reasons, such as aging or exposure to certain chemicals.

Inherited breast cancer genes cannot skip a generation.

If a person has inherited a gene that causes breast cancer, they have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children. If a persons child does not inherit the mutated gene, the child cannot then pass it on to their future children.

However, while genes cannot skip a generation, the cancer can. Having a mutated gene is not a guarantee that a person will have breast cancer.

A mutated gene is still inheritable, even if the person does not develop breast cancer. This means that a persons child may inherit the mutated gene from them and could develop breast cancer.

There are various inherited gene mutations that can cause a person to develop breast cancer. The most common causes of inherited breast cancer are mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.

The BRCA genes are responsible for repairing damage to cells in a persons body. These genes also help certain cells, such as breast or ovarian cells, to grow as expected.

When mutations occur in these genes, it can lead to atypical cell growth. Atypical cell growth can lead to the development of cancer.

If a female inherits a harmful BRCA gene, their risk of developing breast cancer by age 7080 is between 4569%.

Additionally, the ACS notes that males with the BRCA2 gene have a lifetime risk of 6 in 100 for developing breast cancer. Those with the BRCA1 gene have a lifetime risk of 1 in 100.

However, while there has been extensive research on the risk of breast cancer in females with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, there has been less research on the cancer risk in males. As a result, these statistics might not be a true reflection.

Learn more about the BRCA gene here.

The ACS notes that most females who have breast cancer have no family history of the condition. However, having a family history of breast cancer can increase a persons chances of developing it.

A females chances of developing breast cancer double if they have a first degree relative with the condition. A first degree relative is an immediate family member, such as a sister, mother, or daughter.

Breastcancer.org states that a female has a higher risk of inheriting a genetic mutation linked to breast cancer if they have:

The risk of a person developing breast cancer increases with each additional family member who has it. Additionally, having a male relative who has breast cancer also increases a females chances of having it.

More research is necessary to determine the effects of family history on a males chances of developing breast cancer.

If a person is concerned that they may have inherited a breast cancer gene, they should speak with a doctor. A doctor may suggest for a person to undergo genetic counseling.

Genetic counseling involves a person speaking with a genetic counselor about their chances of developing breast cancer. Genetic counselors can also provide a person with resources and support.

This type of counseling can also help a person decide if they would like to take part in genetic testing or not. Genetic testing involves checking a persons genetic profile for breast cancer-causing genes.

Genetic testing for cancer usually involves a person submitting a blood sample. However, other forms of genetic testing can use cell samples from a persons:

If a person knows they have a BRCA gene, there are various medical options available to them.

These options include the following:

Breastcancer.org suggests that a person with a high risk of developing breast cancer may benefit from having more frequent screenings.

A person can speak with a doctor about how often they should get screened for breast cancer.

This can involve:

There are certain medications that can help reduce a persons chances of developing hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Hormone receptor-positive breast cancers contain hormone receptors that are activated by certain hormones. When these hormones bind to the hormone receptors, they can stimulate growth in the cancer.

Hormonal therapy medications reduce the amount of these hormones in a persons body.

These medications include:

A person may choose to have risk-reduction surgery if they have a high risk of developing breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, risk-reduction surgery for breast cancer can involve removing one or both breasts, ovaries, or both pairs. There are two types of risk-reducing surgeries: bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy.

Bilateral prophylactic mastectomies involve removing both breasts, including a persons nipples, which is known as a total mastectomy. The other option is a subcutaneous mastectomy, which involves removing as much breast tissue as possible while leaving a persons nipples intact.

A total mastectomy reduces a persons risk of developing breast cancer better than a subcutaneous mastectomy.

A salpingo-oophorectomy involves the removal of a persons ovaries and fallopian tubes. Removing the ovaries reduces the amount of estrogen in someones body, which can slow the growth of some breast cancers. Estrogen can promote the growth of some types of breast cancer.

For people with a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy can reduce the risk of breast cancer by at least 95%.

It can also reduce the risk of breast cancer in people with a strong family history of this condition by up to 90%.

A salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce the chances of breast cancer in people with a high risk by 50%.

For people with mutated BRCA genes, premenopausal removal of their ovaries and fallopian tubes can reduce breast cancer risk by 50% and ovarian cancer risk by 8595%.

Ovary removal may also increase a persons chances of survival if they do develop breast cancer due to mutated BRCA genes.

Inherited genetic factors may cause a person to develop breast cancer. However, a person who inherits a breast cancer gene may not always develop cancer.

This means that a breast cancer gene can appear to skip a generation, even though it does not.

If a person has a family history of breast cancer, they are at a higher risk of developing it. A person can speak with a doctor about their risk of breast cancer to see if they may qualify for or benefit from genetic counseling.

A person can then decide if they would like to have genetic testing.

If a person has a mutated BRCA gene, there are various medical options available to them. A person should speak with a doctor about which option is right for them.

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Breast cancer and genetics: Can it skip a generation? - Medical News Today