GeneGenie#15 | Carnival Release

[Courtesy of Ricardo Vidal]

Foreword:

It is my pleasure to release #15 edition of blog carnival Gene-Genie, a carnival about genes and gene-related disorders.

So, let’s take a run.

Gene Scan

The hottest news is certainly that J. Craig Venter’s personal genome was sequenced – it resonated everywhere, from labs to blogosphere: the best collection of articles is here (by EyeOnDNA). Analysis of this the most comprehensive human genome to date revealed, that humans are more unique than it was thought. Some of the sequence in Venter’s genome is associated with wet earwax, increased risk of antisocial behaviour, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases (via). Good news for personalized medicine and good promo for 454 (thought I believe in nanopores future). Be ready for low cost-genomes ($1K) sooner than 2014 (a detailed explanation why it’s so expensive now is here (by DigitalBio) and sense your own genetic information while browsing at 23andme. What could we expect from Venter more now? Probably synthesized version of own genome at his Synthetic Genomics, Inc.

Hurry up, PGP’ers!

I think we will soon forget Sanger’s method of the ’70 ies like tend to forget Maxam-Gilbert’s, but still now, after automated fluorescent sequencing is done there’re lot of data to analyze visually or rely on Staden (my favourite), Chromas Lite, Phred, Mutation Surveyor or KB. The unexpected experience of DigitalBio with ABI’s KB is writen here.
There is dismaying news from an US Army about genetic discrimination covered by EyeOnDNA.

Be Healthy

Higlight Health warns, that smoking leads to changes in gene expression, some of which are reversible and some of which are permanent (more that 10yrs), according to a new study from BMC Cancer. Smoking is the single most important avoidable cancer risk factor. Don’t start smoking in the first place. If you do smoke, now is the time to quit (via).

Now, a 5-minute cigarette brake :]

Our sponsors??!

Avoid passive smoking too – it is even more harmful:

More stories about cancer:

My brief BRAF story about simple somatic oncogene mutation which is specific to sporadic colorectal cancer but not hereditary form and about a new immunohistochemical prognostic test for breast cancer.

A new important gene associated with aggressiveness of breast cancer – tumor suppresor acetyl-transferase TIP60 (story by GeneSherpa), which rather unusually needs only one copy malfunctioning to start enhancing tumor growth (because of haploinsufficiency).

Cotch dot net writes about the importance of DNA checkpoints in the tumour development from an evolutionary perspective.

Bonus: Funky guys from BayBlab just released the first blog carnival about cancer research.

If you still smoke and sooner or later develop a lung cancer – don’t worry – you can bank your DNA just before a funerals. A comprehensive list of labs providing this service is listed here (by Genetic Genealogist).

Letters from Editor to a Host.

I have received very informative letter from editor Bertalan – that list will fulfill you for sure (some of the links appear repeatedly, but it represents the way our genome is organized:):

• Human Genomes More Unique Than We Thought; or, Craig Venter Strikes Again (DNA Direct Talk)
• J Craig Venter’s Genome is the New Gold Standard (Eye on DNA)
• Your own DNA sequence? Maybe soon. (Bitesize Bio)

Craig Venter’s genome and our brave new world (Venture Beat)

• A New Human Genome Sequence Paves the Way for Individualized Genomics (PLoS Biology)
• The Genome of Craig Venter or Individualized Genomics: Update (Scienceroll)
• J. Craig Venter and Personal Genetics (Genetic Genealogist)

And here are the others:

• Association analysis of chromosome 1 migraine candidate genes (BioMed Central)
• Gene For Controlling Height Discovered (Future Pundit)
• LRP8 and Familial MI….Ho Hum (Gene Sherpa)
• The Church of George (GenomeBoy)
• What is epigenetics? (Genetics and Health)
• 
  Irreversible Gene Expression Changes From Smoking (Highlight Health)
• Gene therapy for Alzheimer’s? (Neurophilosophy)
• Is My Baby Gay? (Over my med body)
• The Inheritance of Resistance Alleles in Multiple Sclerosis (PLoS genetics)
• Don’t Trust All DNA Sequences and
  Genomics Is Dead! Long Live Systems Biology! (Sandwalk)
• Gene Controlling Fat Accumulation Identified (Biotech Weblog)
• Gene test on flu prognosis? (Effect Measure)
• Why you be short or tall (well, a little bit) (Gene Expression)
• Why is sequencing a human genome so expensive? and Genetic Variation I: What is a SNP? (Discovering Biology…)
• Is Disease Resistance Genetic? Of Course, But… (Epidemix)
• Autism Genetics (Autism Vox)

Well, now we have to slow down our speed and congratulate a new carnival host – Neurophilosophy ! Please further submit articles by filling in the carnival submission form.