Nature Reviews Genetics

Population genetics: Breaking down hybrids.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20799390
Authors: Casci, T.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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From the editors.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20799389
Authors:
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

MeSH Categories: Animals, *Evolution, Genetics, Medical, Primates/*genetics

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Small RNAs: Targeting transcripts for destruction.

Publication Date: 2010 Aug 24 PMID: 20733592
Authors: Swami, M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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The ethics of using transgenic non-human primates to study what makes us human.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717156
Authors: Coors, M. E. - Glover, J. J. - Juengst, E. T. - Sikela, J. M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

A flood of comparative genomic data is resulting in the identification of human lineage-specific (HLS) sequences. As apes are our closest evolutionary relatives, transgenic introduction of HLS sequences into these species has the greatest potential to produce 'humanized' phenotypes and also to illuminate the functions of these sequences. We argue that such transgenic apes would also be more likely than other species to experience harm from such research, which renders such studies ethically unacceptable in apes and justifies regulatory barriers between these species and other non-human primates for HLS transgenic research.

MeSH Categories: Animals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Biomedical Research/*ethics, Genetic Techniques/*ethics, Humans, Primates/*genetics

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Computational solutions to large-scale data management and analysis.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717155
Authors: Schadt, E. E. - Linderman, M. D. - Sorenson, J. - Lee, L. - Nolan, G. P.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

Today we can generate hundreds of gigabases of DNA and RNA sequencing data in a week for less than US$5,000. The astonishing rate of data generation by these low-cost, high-throughput technologies in genomics is being matched by that of other technologies, such as real-time imaging and mass spectrometry-based flow cytometry. Success in the life sciences will depend on our ability to properly interpret the large-scale, high-dimensional data sets that are generated by these technologies, which in turn requires us to adopt advances in informatics. Here we discuss how we can master the different types of computational environments that exist - such as cloud and heterogeneous computing - to successfully tackle our big data problems.

MeSH Categories: Animals, Computational Biology/*methods, Genomics/methods, Humans, Sequence Analysis, DNA/methods

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Genome editing with engineered zinc finger nucleases.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717154
Authors: Urnov, F. D. - Rebar, E. J. - Holmes, M. C. - Zhang, H. S. - Gregory, P. D.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

Reverse genetics in model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, Arabidopsis thaliana, zebrafish and rats, efficient genome engineering in human embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells, targeted integration in crop plants, and HIV resistance in immune cells - this broad range of outcomes has resulted from the application of the same core technology: targeted genome cleavage by engineered, sequence-specific zinc finger nucleases followed by gene modification during subsequent repair. Such 'genome editing' is now established in human cells and a number of model organisms, thus opening the door to a range of new experimental and therapeutic possibilities.

MeSH Categories: Animals, Endonucleases/*genetics/metabolism, *Genetic Techniques, *Genome, Humans, *Zinc Fingers

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Small RNAs: A novel class.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717153
Authors: Swami, M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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Evolution: Gene duplicate holds back its sister.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717152
Authors: Flintoft, L.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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Stem cells: Holding onto the memories.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20717151
Authors: Baumann, K.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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Evolution and development of shape: integrating quantitative approaches.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20697423
Authors: Klingenberg, C. P.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

Morphological traits have long been a focus of evolutionary developmental biology ('evo-devo'), but new methods for quantifying shape variation are opening unprecedented possibilities for investigating the developmental basis of evolutionary change. Morphometric analyses are revealing that development mediates complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors affecting shape. Evolution results from changes in those interactions, as natural selection favours shapes that more effectively perform some fitness-related functions. Quantitative studies of shape can characterize developmental and genetic effects and discover their relative importance. They integrate evo-devo and related disciplines into a coherent understanding of evolutionary processes from populations to large-scale evolutionary radiations.

MeSH Categories: Animals, Developmental Biology/*methods, *Evolution, Humans, Morphogenesis, Selection, Genetic

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Measuring selection in contemporary human populations.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20680024
Authors: Stearns, S. C. - Byars, S. G. - Govindaraju, D. R. - Ewbank, D.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

Are humans currently evolving? This question can be answered using data on lifetime reproductive success, multiple traits and genetic variation and covariation in those traits. Such data are available in existing long-term, multigeneration studies - both clinical and epidemiological - but they have not yet been widely used to address contemporary human evolution. Here we review methods to predict evolutionary change and attempts to measure selection and inheritance in humans. We also assemble examples of long-term studies in which additional measurements of evolution could be made. The evidence strongly suggests that we are evolving and that our nature is dynamic, not static.

MeSH Categories: Culture, *Evolution, Genetic Fitness, Genetics, Medical, Humans, Phenotype, *Selection, Genetic

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DNA methylation: Looking beyond promoters.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20680023
Authors: Flintoft, L.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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Gene regulation: Small ORFs conceal bioactive peptides.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20680022
Authors: Casci, T.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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Inbreeding and epigenetics: beneficial as well as deleterious effects.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20661256
Authors: Nebert, D. W. - Galvez-Peralta, M. - Shi, Z. - Dragin, N.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

MeSH Categories: Animals, *Epigenesis, Genetic, *Inbreeding, Mice

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The widespread regulation of microRNA biogenesis, function and decay.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20661255
Authors: Krol, J. - Loedige, I. - Filipowicz, W.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are approximately 21 nucleotides in length and control many developmental and cellular processes in eukaryotic organisms. Research during the past decade has identified major factors participating in miRNA biogenesis and has established basic principles of miRNA function. More recently, it has become apparent that miRNA regulators themselves are subject to sophisticated control. Many reports over the past few years have reported the regulation of miRNA metabolism and function by a range of mechanisms involving numerous protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Such regulation has an important role in the context-specific functions of miRNAs.

MeSH Categories: Animals, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, MicroRNAs/*genetics/*metabolism, *RNA Stability

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Mutation rate: DNA repair and indels boost errors.

Publication Date: 2010 Sep PMID: 20661254
Authors: Muers, M.
Journal: Nat Rev Genet

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