Monthly Archives: September 2017

Strong evidence of an epigenetic effect on mRNA that modulates hematopoietic stem cell fate and progenitor cell specification

Posted on September 29, 2017 by DWN

In previous GEITP emails, we have emphasized the importance of genetics, epigenetic effects, AND environmental factors –– all contributing to a phenotype (trait) –– whether the trait is a complex disease, drug efficacy or toxicity, or some metric (quantitative measurement) … Continue reading →

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DNA surgery on embryos removes disease

Posted on September 28, 2017 by DWN

This article is from BBC News this morning. DNA surgery on embryos removes disease By James Gallagher, BBC News · 28 September 2017 Precise “chemical surgery” has been performed on human embryos to remove disease A research team at Sun … Continue reading →

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Parental influence on human germline de novo mutations in 1,548 trios from Iceland

Posted on September 27, 2017 by DWN

DNA mutations (alteration of a nucleotide base) can occur in the germline or somewhere in the body other than the germ cells (spermatozoa and ova). The former are called germ cell mutations, and the latter somatic cell mutations. It has … Continue reading →

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60 years ago this month, Francis Crick changed the logic of Biology

Posted on September 25, 2017 by DWN

For all you History of Biology and the Gene buffs, this article [attached] is a must-read. Sept 2o17 marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most significant lectures in the history of biology; it was given on 19 September … Continue reading →

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Gene-environment interaction study of body mass index (BMI) reveals interactions between genetic factors and physical activity, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status

Posted on September 22, 2017 by DWN

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are used for attempting to find genes/genetic loci associated with a phenotype (trait). The trait chosen to be studied might be height, weight or body mass index (BMI) –– or a complex disease such as schizophrenia, … Continue reading →

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CRISPR/Cas9-edited correction of an autosomal dominant gene mutation responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (cause of sudden death in otherwise healthy young athletes)

Posted on September 17, 2017 by DWN

The CRISPR/Cas9-edited correction of an autosomal dominant gene mutation (2 August 2o17 Nature paper –– reported by GEITP Sept 7; see way below and attached pdf files) now seems to be questioned by a number of other researchers in the … Continue reading →

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Predatory journals are even able sometimes to scam some senior scientists who should know better

Posted on September 15, 2017 by DWN

GEITP emailings have frequently covered this topic of “predatory” “online, open-access” journals that have exploded in the past few years and now number more than 8,000 (some estimates are as high as 15,000). Pseudoscientific “editors” and “publishers” of predatory journals … Continue reading →

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Obesity is a factor in enhancing metastasis of cancers; losing weight can reverse this effect

Posted on September 15, 2017 by DWN

Because it is quite well known that obesity is associated with inflammatory processes, it probably comes as no surprise that obesity appears to enhance cancer metastasis. Obesity affects more than 30% of adults in the U.S. Although obesity has been … Continue reading →

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Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of gestational duration and spontaneous preterm birth

Posted on September 12, 2017 by DWN

“Preterm birth” is defined as “birth at less than 37 completed weeks of gestation”. Prematurity used to be viewed as an “unpredictable and inevitable fact of life”. Medical efforts have thus focused on improving the consequences of prematurity rather than … Continue reading →

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How to write a sincere-sounding (yet cleverly deceptive) Letter of Recommendation ; )

Posted on September 9, 2017 by DWN

Just about every one of us has had to deal with “that problematic Letter of Recommendation” –– when it becomes time for your undergrad student or technician or senior staff member or grad student or postdoc to “move on” to … Continue reading →

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