SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS a quick summary of 10 genetics and biotech stories 1. Researchers recently published a catalog of DNA variation in the soybean genome. More than 15 million genetic changes were identified across 1,000 different soybean plants gathered
6. In 2003, the Human Genome Project (HGP) sequenced the first near complete human genome, resolving all but about 15 percent of the genome that mostly contained repetitive regions that were inaccessible using the technology at the time. Extensive work since the completion of the HGP brought the missing parts down to about eight percent. Now an in- ternational team of scientists from the Telomere-to- Telomere Consortium claims in a pre-print to have sequenced a complete, gapless human genome. Using a relatively new type of sequencing technology called long-read sequencing, more than 3,000 predicted genes were identified, including about 150 new protein-coding genes. More details can be found in the Shareable Science blogpost: How does genomics and genetics impact our world today? 7. During summer 2021, the UK-based biotech company Oxitec conducted first US field test of genetically modified mosquitoes. Nearly 144,000 modified male mosquitoes were released across regions of the Florida Keys. When the mosquitoes mate with females, they pass on a gene that prevents female offspring from reaching maturity. If this approach successfully reduces the number of females, it could one day be used instead of pesticides. Controlled field releases in other countries have led to a drop in mosqui- to-carried diseases. Oxitec has been working with various Florida communities for over a decade to design this pilot and educate stakeholders.
The laboratory of HudsonAlpha faculty researchers Jane Grimwood PhD and Jeremy Schmutz contributed to this work. from around the world. These include mutations that silence over 10,000 soybean genes. This catalog of DNA change can be used to identify the genetic basis of important soybean traits and guide efforts to breed more sustainable plants.
2. The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna for their work developing amethod for genome editing using the CRISPR/ Cas9 system. The pair began collaborating in 2011 and early on wondered if their work might lead to a new type of antibiotic to treat disease-causing bacteria. As they continued their studies, they instead discovered a powerful molecular tool that makes precise cuts in DNA at predetermined sites. This tool has revolutionized biological research, leading to drought and disease resistant crops, novel treatments and even the potential to cure certain genetic diseases.
3. The American Society of Human Genetics recently released a report detailing how human genetics and genomics research impacts the U.S. economy, society, and healthcare. In the United States, this field supports 850,000 jobs and generates $15.5 billion in tax revenue every year….that’s a higher dollar amount than the gross domestic profit of one-third of the countries in the world. The annual federal investment of more than $3 billion in human genetics and genomics has a return on investment of nearly five times that amount.
8. The plains zebra lives in the grasslands of south- ern and eastern Africa. This species of zebra can vary in the specific pattern of its stripes, including rare instances of spotting or nearly solid black across the torso. The genomes of 7 abnormally striped zebras were recently compared to 133 typically striped zebras
from nine locations. Zebras with abnormal striping showed increased levels of inbreeding. It is not known if altered stripe patterns are associated with health, ability to avoid predators or successfully reproduce.
More details can be found in the Shareable Science blogpost: How does genomics and genetics impact our world today?
4. An international consortium has analyzed the microbial communities of public transit systems from 60 cities around the globe. Samples were collected from railings, benches, ticket kiosks as well as the air. Over 4,200 species of urban microorganisms were identified, with 31 consistently appearing across almost all cities. Each city had its own combination of bacteria and viruses, primarily shaped by differences in climate and geography. Markers of antimicrobial resistance were widespread
HudsonAlpha faculty researcher Greg Barsh MD, PhD contributed to this work.
9. Thanks to new sequencing technologies, an updated and more complete giraffe genome was recently published. Comparing the giraffe genome to those fromother mammals, scientists found 500 genes unique to giraffes or containing DNA changes found only in giraffes. Interestingly, many were associated with growth and development, nervous and visual systems,
but present at relatively low levels. This type of map- ping gives public health officials a new set of tools to track potentially disease-causing microbes.
circadian rhythms, and blood pressure regulation, all areas in which the giraffe differs from its close rela- tives. These changes are associated with adaptations that allow giraffes to survive and thrive even with their unusually long body structure. More details can be found in the Shareable Science blogpost: Journeying into the giraffe genome.
HudsonAlpha faculty researcher Shawn Levy PhD contributed to this work.
5. Determining the pathways that convert typical cells to cancer is an important goal of cancer re- searchers. This involves identifying all the genes that drive tumor formation when mutated. By analyzing pub- licly-available cancer datasets, the Integrative OncoGenomics (IntOGen) pipeline classified 568 driver genes across 28,000 samples from 66 different cancer types. This includes 152 genes not previously designated as drivers of cancer. The next step is to understand why mutations that alter the function of these genes lead to abnormal cell growth and spread.
10. Aquabounty Technologies, Inc. has completed the first commercial scale harvest of its genetically engineered Atlantic salmon, sending 5 metric tons of the fish to commercial buyers. A one-time genetic modification made 30 years ago allows the salmon to reach market size in half the time. Sterile, female fish are raised in land-based tanks. Aquabounty salmon was approved by the FDA in 2015. The salmon have been sold in Canada since 2017.
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