Ganit Labs

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/p-fsi082216.php

Many of the characteristics that make up a person's face, such as nose size and face width, stem from specific genetic variations.

Face shape is in the genes Many of the characteristics that make up a person's face, such as nose size and face width, stem from specific genetic variations, reports John Shaffer of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and colleagues, in a study published on Aug. 25 in PLOS Genetics.

https://today.duke.edu/2016/08/variation-%E2%80%9Cjunk%E2%80%9D-dna-leads-trouble

A new study shows that variation in these overlooked repetitive regions may also affect human health. These regions can affect the stability of the genome and the proper function of the chromosomes that package genetic material, leading to an increased risk of cancer, birth defects and infertility.

Variation in “Junk” DNA Leads to Trouble All humans are 99.9 percent identical, genetically speaking. But that tiny 0.1 percent variation has big consequences, influencing the color of your eyes, the span of your hips, your risk of getting sick and in some ways even your earning potential. Although variants are scattered throughout the gen...

http://singularityhub.com/2016/08/19/harvard-biologists-just-demonstrated-the-most-extensive-reengineering-of-a-genome-yet/

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have "radically rewritten" the genome of bacteria E. coli.

Harvard Biologists Just Demonstrated the Most Extensive Reengineering of a Genome Yet Researchers at Harvard Medical School have "radically rewritten" the genome of bacteria E. coli. The team has replaced 7 of its 64 codons (3-letter sequences which correspond usually... read more

http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/new-ucsd-search-engine-can-sort-through-functional-genomics-data

This will enable physicians, clinicians, students and even the general public, to look at the functional aspects of the genome very quickly—in a matter of minutes

Researchers can ID patterns of health and illness, says bioengineering professor Sheng Zhong. University of California-San Diego bioengineers have created the first online search engine for web-based functional genomics data, enabling researchers to comb through massive amounts of data held in Internet repositories that might someday lead to medical breakthroughs.

https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2016/06/06/genomic-data-commons-heralds-new-era-data-sharing-cancer-research

The Genomic Data Commons brings together genomic datasets and analyzes the data using a common set of methods so that researchers may more easily make discoveries, and, in this sense, democratizes the analysis of large cancer genomic datasets.

Genomic Data Commons heralds new era of data sharing for cancer research The Genomic Data Commons, a next-generation platform that enables unprecedented data access, analysis and sharing for cancer research, publicly launched at the University of Chicago on June 6, opening the door to discoveries for this complex set of diseases.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/genome-reveals-why-giraffes-have-long-necks/

Call it a tall task: researchers have decoded the genomes of the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi. The sequences reveal clues to the age-old mystery of how the giraffe evolved its unusually long neck and legs.

Genome Reveals Why Giraffes Have Long Necks Scientists spot mutations that could explain how giraffes became the world’s tallest living mammals

https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/18/synthetic-human-genome/

The genome contains the instructions for life. And while scientists can decipher the complete sequence of DNA that makes up a human genome, trying to build the 3 billion nucleotides letter by letter would be a test of how much we know about it.

Here's what we could really learn from a synthetic human genome Building genomes from scratch could yield new insights into human disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160427164134.htm

New research published today in PLOS ONE reveals an improved annotation of microRNAs in the dog genome to further understand its biological role. Providing a platform for future studies into biomedicine, evolution and the domestication of important animals including dogs, cows and horses.

Analysis of dog genome will provide insight into human disease An important model in studying human disease, the non-coding RNA of the canine genome is an essential starting point for evolutionary and biomedical studies, according to a new study.

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/sa-visual/how-to-read-the-latest-zika-vector-genome-chart/

How to Read the Latest Zika Vector Genome Chart Efforts to learn more about the mosquito that transmits Zika have resulted in a new visualization, but what does it show?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0331/Scientists-develop-a-sharper-picture-of-the-gorilla-genome

The differences between species may aid researchers in identifying regions of the human genome that are associated with cognition, behavior, and neurological diseases. Having complete and accurate reference genomes to compare allows researchers to uncover these differences

Scientists develop a sharper picture of the gorilla genome Using new sequencing techniques, University of Washington scientists have produced a nearly complete sequence of one of humankind's closest relatives.

http://phys.org/news/2016-03-genomes-chimpanzee-parasite-species-reveal.html

Understanding the origins of emerging diseases - as well as more established disease agents—is critical to gauge future human infection risks and find new treatment and prevention approaches.

Genomes of chimpanzee parasite species reveal evolution of human malaria Understanding the origins of emerging diseases - as well as more established disease agents—is critical to gauge future human infection risks and find new treatment and prevention approaches. This holds true for malaria, which kills more than 500,000 people a year. Symptoms, including severe anemia,…